CHEF JOHN'S SPAGHETTI WITH RED CLAM SAUCE

Chef John's Spaghetti with Red Clam Sauce image

This is one of my 'go to' recipes and it takes only about 15 minutes from start to finish. The only prep work really is mashing the garlic. The sauce is great on any pasta, but I prefer angel hair or spaghetti.

Provided by Chef John

Time 20m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons capers
1 tablespoon anchovy paste
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 (24 ounce) jar tomato pasta sauce
¼ cup water
1 cup good-quality crisp white wine
2 (6.5 ounce) cans chopped clams, drained with juice reserved
salt and pepper to taste
1 pound dry spaghetti
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Chopped fresh basil leaves or parsley

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 852 calories, Carbohydrate 116.9 g, Cholesterol 71.5 mg, Fat 16.5 g, Fiber 8.4 g, Protein 44.3 g, SaturatedFat 3.5 g, Sodium 1513.8 mg, Sugar 18.6 g