SEAFOOD FRA DIAVOLO

Steps:

• Make the marinara sauce in a large pot. You can make this a day or two before. First saute the onion in 1T olive oil. once it starts to soften, lower the heat and add the chopped garlic clove. Add 2 cans (28 oz each) of crushed tomatoes. Add 2T or more of parsley, oregano and basil. Add 1 tsp salt, 1 Tbsp fresh black pepper. Add 1 Tbsp hot red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil. Float a bay leaf on top. Cover and lower flame and simmer for 30 minutes stirring occasionally. After 30 minutes, remove bay leaf. Adjust spices to taste. Cool to save or use in recipe.
• De-grit the clams (soak in cold water bath with salt three times for 20 minutes each) and scrub. Get rid of dead ones.
• De-beard the mussels but pulling it down to the hinge at the flat end of the shell and then scrub. If a mussel is open, gently tap it on the counter and see if it closes. If it doesn't throw it away. It's dead. Also, if it's shell is cracked, to toss it too.
• Remove the muscle from the scallops. It's a tough piece attached to the side..
• Devein and remove the shells from the shrimp.
• Bring a pot of water (large enough to hold all the clams and mussels with room to spare) to a boil in the highest heat and add littleneck clams to the boiling water and cover. Cook until shells have opened, about 3-5 minutes. Then add mussels and cover for another 5 minutes. (watch that it doesn't boil over). Remove shellfish with a large slotted spoon and rinse with hot water in a colander. Put them all in a big bowl.
• Start heating the sauce. I used a Dutch oven for the sauce (A giant hot tub for the seafood). Stir slowly and when the sauce is reaches a boil lower to a simmer. Add the clams and mussels. Add 1 cup of chicken or fish stock.
• Prepare the rest of the seafood and once prepared as listed below and then dump the whole thing into the sauce and simmer for 20-30 minutes in total. Here are the details:
• Heat 2 Tbsp olive oil in a pan.
• Add scallops and sear 2 minutes. Turn them over.
• Add clam meat and calamari and sauté for 1 minute.
• Add shrimp. 1 minute per side.
• Add 1 cup of dry white wine and let the alcohol burn off. Do this right after you put the shrimp on.
• Boil 1 box of linguini in salted water for about 10 minute to get al dente. Drain and rinse in hot water. The linguini can also (less desirable) be prepared ahead of time and put to the side if need be.
• Spoon seafood over pasta. Garnish with a handful each of fresh chopped parsley and basil (about 1 cup in total) and serve.