Description
A simple yet flavorful Italian dish featuring fresh littleneck clams, garlic, and a hint of chili, all tossed with spaghetti in a white wine sauce.
Ingredients
Units
- 3 dozen littleneck clams (8-9 per person), cleaned
- 5 large garlic cloves, finely minced
- 4 tbsp (60 ml) olive oil
- 1 tbsp minced chili OR red chili flakes
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) dry white wine
- 1 handful fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 lb (450 g) spaghetti or linguine
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling water, drop your spaghetti or linguine to cook until al dente.
- In a skillet wide enough to fit the clams almost in a single layer, add the olive oil, garlic and chili. Sauté over medium low heat for a few minutes, until the garlic starts to turn golden brown and becomes fragrant.
- Turn the heat up a touch and add the white wine, then the clams and half of the chopped parsley.
- Immediately cover the clams with a tightly fitting lid. Let the clams steam for roughly 8-10 minutes, this depends on the size of your clams, how jam-packed the skillet is, etc.
- After 8 minutes, remove the lid and with a slotted spoon or tongs, remove any clams that have opened – set them in a bowl to the side. Keep the lid on for a few more minutes to continue cooking any clams still unopened.
- Add 1/4 cup of starchy pasta water to the skillet with the clam sauce and the remaining chopped parsley. Taste and season with a bit of black pepper and salt if needed.
- Drain the pasta and drop it directly into the clam sauce, tossing a couple of times to coat the pasta in sauce. Transfer the cooked clams, shells and all, back into the pasta and sauce and serve.
Notes
- Ensure the clams are thoroughly cleaned before cooking.
- Use a good quality dry white wine for the best flavor.
- Serve immediately for the freshest taste.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 500
- Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 20
- Cholesterol: 30