Weeknight Pasta With Clam Sauce Recipes

SPAGHETTI WITH CLAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Start water to boil for pasta.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium high heat in a small or medium saucepan.
• Add garlic and saute until softened, a few minutes. Add mushrooms (if using), clams, and juice from one of the cans of clams. Turn heat to high.
• Add red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, oregano, wine, and lemon juice. Let simmer on high until at least three fourths of liquid has evaporated, about 10-15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta until it is al dente.
• Drain pasta. Add pasta back to empty pot (off heat) and coat with 1/2 tablespoon of oil.
• Take sauce off heat. Add black pepper to taste, and parsley.
• Immediately add half of the sauce to the pasta and toss.
• Plate pasta, top with other half of sauce, and serve.

THE BEST WEEKNIGHT PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Add the ground beef and olive oil to a pot and sauté over medium until the beef is cooked through (about 5 minutes). If you're using a higher fat content beef (10% or higher), you may want to drain the excess fat once the beef has browned.
• While the beef is cooking, finely dice the onion. Add the diced onion and butter to the cooked beef. Continue to sauté until the onion is soft and translucent (about 5 minutes).
• Next, add the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning blend, and some freshly cracked pepper (10-15 cranks of a pepper mill). Stir everything to combine.
• Place a lid on the pot and allow it to come up to a simmer. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for 30 minutes.
• After a minimum of 30 minutes simmering, add about 1/2 tsp salt, stir to combine, then taste and add more if needed. The flavor of the sauce will deepen and the complexities will pop once the salt is added. Serve over pasta or your favorite roasted vegetables.

SPAGHETTI WITH WHITE CLAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, brown garlic in olive oil over medium heat. Stir in butter or margarine and seasonings until butter or margarine is melted. Add clams with some of their liquid; heat through.
• Drain pasta. Toss spaghetti with clam sauce, and top with grated Romano cheese.

SPAGHETTI WITH CLAMS

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring to a boil 6 quarts of salted water. Add pasta, stirring constantly in the beginning to prevent it from sticking together. Cook until al dente, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large saute pan. When almost smoking, add shallots and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the clams and wine. Cover and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes or until most clams have opened.
• Add 2 tablespoons chopped parsley. Whisk in butter to thicken sauce slightly.
• Drain pasta in a colander. Do not rinse pasta with water - this will remove the pasta's natural starches. Place pasta into the clam saute pan and mix thoroughly. Check seasoning.
• Pour pasta into large serving bowl. Zest lemon over the dish, being carefull not to zest the white part of the lemon, which is bitter. Garnish with remaining parsley. Serve immediately.

FETTUCCINE WITH CREAMY WHITE CLAM SAUCE

Steps:

• *Heavy cream is preferred, but half-and-half or light cream may be used but you'll probably have to thicken the sauce.
• **Fresh parsley is highly recommended for the flavor. But if you don't have it, 2 tbs of the dehydrted from the jar will do in a pinch.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
• Add the garlic and let it saute for about 1-2 minutes. Don't let it brown.
• Add the can of clams, including the liquor they are packed in.
• Add the salt, pepper and oregano and bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Continue cooking uncovered over medium heat until the liquid is reduced by about 25 % (about 10 minutes)
• Reduce heat and stir in the cream--do let it boil.
• If you used heavy cream, the sauce should be thick enough, but if you used half-and-half or light cream, you may have to thicken--
• TO THICKEN IF DESIRED:
• Mix 1 tbs of cornstarch in 2 tbs cold water and add to the sauce, stirring constantly over medium heat until mixture thickens, about 1 minute.
• Serve over hot pasta and top each serving with 1 tbs of the finely chopped *fresh* parsley. (1/2 tbs each if using the dehydrated)

SPAGHETTI WITH CANNED CLAMS

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs, granulated garlic and a pinch of salt and pepper. Toast the breadcrumbs, stirring occasionally, until lightly golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Set aside.
• Fill a large pot with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and season generously with salt. Add the spaghetti and cook to al dente, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large saute pan or skillet, add the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil along with the garlic and red pepper flakes. Turn the heat on low and let cook until fragrant, for a few minutes. Stir in the wine and cook another 1 to 2 minutes. Add the clams, then turn up the heat to medium and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper. Use tongs to take the pasta out of the water directly into the pan (this works best when the pasta is a couple minutes away from being done; you want it really al dente so it finishes cooking in the sauce). Use tongs to toss. If dry, add a little pasta water. Add the parsley. Toss until coated in the sauce and the pasta is tender. Serve with the toasted breadcrumbs sprinkled on top.

WEEKNIGHT PASTA WITH CLAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.
• While pasta cooks, drain the clams and reserve 3/4C of the clam liquid.
• Melt butter over medium heat in skillet.
• Add garlic to butter and sautee 1-2 minutes- do not brown.
• Add cream and clam liquid.
• Bring to a boil, stirring often.
• Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
• Add the clams and parsely till clams are heated.
• Turn off heat and add Monterey Jack cheese and pasta and toss well.
• Serve hot and season with parmesan and fresh ground pepper if desired.