Orecchiette Pasta And Littleneck Clams Recipes

ORECCHIETTE WITH CLAMS AND BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs, adding the grated broccoli during the last 30 seconds of cooking. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain.
• Meanwhile, combine the breadcrumbs and 2 teaspoons olive oil in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat. Season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 5 minutes; remove to a bowl.
• Heat the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil with the garlic in a separate pot over medium-high heat. Cook until the garlic is just golden, about 3 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes, clams and wine. Cover and cook until the clams open, 5 to 7 minutes; remove the clams to a bowl using a slotted spoon (discard any unopened clams). Add the butter, pasta, broccoli and 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water to the pot; cook, stirring, until the pasta is well coated, about 1 minute. Gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup cooking water if the pasta seems dry.
• Stir the clams and any juices into the pasta. Drizzle each serving with olive oil and sprinkle with the breadcrumbs.

ORECCHIETTE WITH CLAMS, SAUSAGE AND PEPPERS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water.
• Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a separate large pot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, stirring and breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until browned and crumbled, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the clams and 1/4 cup water. Cover and cook, removing the clams to a bowl as they open, 5 to 8 minutes. Discard any unopened clams.
• Add the pasta, 3/4 cup reserved cooking water, the roasted red peppers and remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Simmer, stirring, until the liquid is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes, adding more cooking water as needed; season with salt and pepper.
• Stir in the parsley. Add the clams and gently toss.

ORECCHIETTE PASTA AND LITTLENECK CLAMS

Steps:

• Cook orecchiette in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain. Return to pot. Mix in oil, 2 tablespoons parsley and oregano.
• Meanwhile, combine clams, wine, shallot, garlic and thyme in large Dutch oven. Cover; boil until clams open, about 8 minutes (discard any that do not open).
• Add pasta to clams and stir to blend. Cook over medium-high heat until pasta absorbs some clam juices, about 3 minutes. Season with pepper. Transfer to large bowl. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons parsley and serve.