Best Italian Clams In Tomato And Herb Sauce Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S SPAGHETTI WITH RED CLAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Pour olive oil into cold skillet. Add garlic, capers, anchovy paste, and red pepper flakes. Place over medium heat and cook and stir until the oil is infused with the flavors of the mixture, about 5 minutes, taking care not to brown the garlic. Add tomato sauce and rinse jar with 1/4 cup water; add water to skillet. Pour in wine and juice from clams, reserving the clams. Bring to a simmer until slightly reduced and thickened, 7 to 9 minutes.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until almost al dente, or about 1 minute less than directed on package. Drain. Return pasta to the pot off heat.
• Stir clams into the sauce. Pour sauce over pasta. Stir; cover the pot to allow it to finish cooking off heat and to allow the pasta will absorb some of the sauce, about 3 minutes. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Top with chopped fresh basil and/or parsley.

PASTA WITH CLAMS AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Meanwhile, put 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large, deep skillet that can later be covered and turn the heat to high. A minute later, add the clams, reduce the heat to medium-high, give the pan a shake, and cover. Continue to cook the clams, shaking the pan occasionally, until they begin to open, as little as 5 minutes later. Add the garlic and cook until most of the clams are open.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta. When it is nearly tender, remove a cup of its cooking water and drain. When the clams are ready, add the pasta and the tomatoes to the skillet and cook, tossing frequently, until the pasta is tender and hot; add some of the pasta-cooking water if the mixture is too dry.
• Add the remaining olive oil and taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary; garnish with the parsley and serve.
• Variation
• White Pasta with Clams: Omit the tomatoes and substitute about 3/4 cup dry white wine, adding it to the clams about a minute before the pasta.

LINGUINE WITH CLAMS IN TOMATO HERB SAUCE

Steps:

• Saute butter and olive oil in a large pot.
• Add chopped onion and red pepper flakes and saute 5 minutes, or until onion is translucent.
• Add minced garlic and saute 1 minute.
• Add tomatoes and cook about 2 minutes.
• Add chicken broth and 1 cup water and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 15-20 minutes.
• Add clams, cover, and bring to a boil. Cook until clams open, about 5 minutes. Throw away any clams that do not open. Transfer clams to a bowl & set aside.
• Add basil, parsley, and oregano into pot.
• Add the linguine and boil until pasta is al dente. Add more broth or water if necessary.
• Return clams and their juices to the pot. Cook 1-2 minutes longer.
• Season with salt and pepper.

RED CLAM SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small skillet, saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer., Transfer to a 1-1/2- or 2-qt. slow cooker. Stir in the clams, tomatoes, tomato paste, parsley, bay leaf, sugar, basil and thyme., Cover and cook on low until heated through, 3-4 hours. Discard bay leaf. If desired, sprinkle with additional parsley. Serve with linguine. Freeze option: Omit additional parsley. Cool before placing in a freezer container. Cover and freeze for up to 3 months. To use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Place in a large saucepan; heat through, stirring occasionally. Serve with linguine and, if desired, minced parsley.

PASTA WITH WHITE CLAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. In a saucepan, saute garlic and anchovies in oil for 3 minutes, breaking up anchovies. Stir in the clam juice, clams, water, oregano, parsley, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until sauce is reduced by half. Drain pasta; toss with clam sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan.