Best Steamed Clams And Pasta Recipes

LINGUINI WITH CLAMS AND GARLIC BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente. Steam 12 littleneck clams and set aside. In a saute pan over medium heat, add crushed garlic and then add the garlic butter and wine. When butter starts to bubble, add clams and mix around until clams are coated. Add lemon juice, and toss to coat. Place pasta in a serving bowl, and top with the clam mixture.
• Cut toasted bread into slices and brush with garlic butter. Garnish with Parmesan, parsley and crushed red pepper. Serve with a lemon wedge.
• In a small bowl, combine all ingredients, to taste.

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.

LINGUINE WITH CLAMS

Steps:

• Soak the clams in cool water for about 30 minutes to expel the sand. Gently scrub the shells to remove any debris.
• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water (it should taste like the sea) to a boil. Add the pasta to the water and cook until slightly less than al dente.
• In a large braiser or sauté pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, shallots, anchovies and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring, until the shallots are soft, about 3 minutes.
• Add the clams in a single layer, along with a sprinkle of the parsley and the wine. Cover the pan with a lid and steam, shaking the pan occasionally, until the clams open up, 4 to 5 minutes. Discard any clams that remain closed. Transfer the clams to a bowl and set aside.
• Strain or transfer the pasta and add it directly to the pan with the clam sauce along with a drizzle of olive oil, tossing to combine. Let the pasta finish cooking with the sauce until the sauce thickens, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add the remaining parsley to the pan and toss, then top with the clams and another drizzle of oil. Serve.

MARK BITTMAN'S PASTA WITH CLAMS

Steps:

• Steam the clams in a covered pot (a glass top is very nice, voyeuristically speaking). You don't need any liquid other than what the clams will release. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it.
• After the clams open - it could take as little as 10 minutes - uncover and cool. Take the meat out and strain and reserve the liquid; make sure to leave any sand behind. Chop the clams if they're big.
• Cook the pasta in the boiling salted water. Put 1/4 cup olive oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. When the oil is warm, add the red pepper flakes and garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Add the clams and continue to cook, stirring, for about a minute. Add about 1/2 cup of the reserved clam liquid.
• Drain the pasta when it's nearly done and stir it into the clams. Cook, stirring, until the pasta is tender and the mixture is saucy. Add more clam-cooking liquid (or hot water or white wine), if necessary. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding a little more oil if you like. Garnish, and serve.