Of all of the great seafood pasta recipes there are right here in Italy, pasta with clams might be the highest of the very best vendor listing. Not stunning given how scrumptious this iconic Neapolitan dish is! This linguine alle vongole is my Sicilian hubby’s recipe. He’s fairly beneficiant with the garlic and peperoncino nevertheless it’s simply the best way we prefer it!

Purple clam sauce or white?
Like many different related dishes, pasta with clams is historically made in what Italians name a pink or white model (rosso o bianco); in different phrases, with tomatoes or with out. We usually eat our vongole pasta with out tomatoes.
My hubby is the chef once we wish to eat linguine alle vongole. Being Sicilian, he’s a star on the subject of seafood dishes and I’m completely happy to depart him to it. In my view, his pasta with clams is the very best I’ve ever tasted and I’m not saying that as a result of we’re married!
Elements.
The correct clams or vongole.
The principle ingredient for a ‘actual’ Italian pasta alle vongole is ‘vongola verace’ generally generally known as the cross-cut carpet shell clam. This ridged shell clam is discovered each farmed and wild right here in Italy, however I’ve learn that the style is similar as they eat solely what’s within the sea.
In the event you do discover vongole veraci, they could be a bit costlier than different clams. However they’re price the additional price, positively the very best clams! Plus, other than being actually scrumptious, these clams are self-cleaning in order that they’re unlikely to have sand in them and make the dish a lot simpler to arrange.
In fact, many individuals make pasta alle vongole with different forms of clams. The Manila clam, which many Italians name the faux ‘verace’, is extensively farmed within the Adriatic sea and Sardinia. Consequently, these are utilized by many cooks to make linguine alle vongole.
Manila clams look similar to vongole veraci. One other fashionable clam is the rayed artemis clam. These are smaller, whiter and extra rounded however nonetheless style actually good too! A preferred various within the US are little necks that are small clams much like Manila clams and extensively out there in North America.
In fact, it’s doable to make use of canned clams, however in my view you gained’t get anyplace close to the identical flavour, as with contemporary stay clams.
The pasta.
Historically, this recipe is made with spaghetti, vermicelli or linguine. We used linguine made by La Molisana. I desire linguine for this dish as a result of this pasta has extra floor space to absorb the sauce. However, any slim lengthy pasta works nicely. Spaghetti alle vongole is a well-liked restaurant merchandise within the US. Italians don’t normally use quick pasta on this dish.
Different components.
Aside from the linguine and clams, this linguine pasta alle vongole recipe has only a few different components. In truth, most variations include nothing greater than garlic, peperoncino (Italian pink chili pepper), white wine, olive oil and parsley.
The garlic: Recent garlic is a should for pasta with clams. We like this dish very garlicky and use as much as 6-8 cloves. In fact, you should utilize much less if you happen to desire.
The peperoncino: You need to use contemporary peperoncino (pink chilli peppers) or pink chili flakes. Once more, the quantity you utilize depends upon private style.
Recent parsley: Recent parsley leaves can also be a should, dried does not work nicely. The parsley is normally added earlier than serving. It provides a stunning herby freshness to vongole pasta.
Olive oil: Additional virgin olive oil has the very best taste. We use the olive oil to prepare dinner the components and add a little bit earlier than serving.
White wine: Wine is elective. We do not all the time use it and my Sicilian husband feels it smothers from the opposite flavors. In the event you add wine use a dry white wine reminiscent of a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.
Maintain it easy.
I not too long ago learn an article about this recipe that stated, if you happen to’re going to spend a bit for contemporary clams, you then don’t wish to smother their style with a number of different flavours. I completely agree with this standpoint! Having stated that, my hubby is fairly beneficiant with the garlic and peperoncino. However, you should utilize much less if you happen to desire!
Step be step directions.
1) Wash the clams in chilly operating water and take away any with damaged shells. Some sorts of clams want quite a lot of rinsing if they’ve sand in them. However you may as well filter the liquid after you’ve gotten precooked them, so don’t fear a lot concerning the sand.
2) Peel and finely chop the cloves of garlic and wash and chop the parsley.
3) Put a pot of water on to boil for the pasta. When it begins to boil add the pasta. You in all probability don’t want salt because the clams will already be a little bit salty. Cook dinner the pasta al dente in keeping with the bundle instructions.
4) Within the meantime, put the clams in a deep frying pan and prepare dinner coated over a medium to excessive warmth till they’ve opened.
5) Take away the meat from half of the clam shells protecting the remaining intact and if crucial, filter the liquid that the clams produce by way of a high-quality fabric right into a bowl. Discard the empty shells.
6) Warmth the olive oil in a frying pan or skillet. Add the garlic and peperoncino. Cook dinner over a medium warmth till the garlic begins to melt.
7) Add the clams (with shells and with out) with half their liquid to the pan and prepare dinner for a couple of minutes. Add the white wine (if utilizing) and prepare dinner additional till the alcohol evaporates. If the sauce appears dry, pour in the remainder of the clam liquid. Proceed cooking for an additional 3-5 minutes after which flip off the warmth.
8) When the pasta is cooked, drain it and add to the pan with the cooked clams. Combine every thing collectively nicely over a low warmth. Then add a tablespoon of olive oil and most the chopped parsley. Combine once more and serve instantly with one other sprinkling of chopped parsley, if required.
Cook dinner’s Tip.
There are simply 2 factors that want care to ensure your linguine pasta alle vongole is ideal. Firstly, on this model the clams are cooked alone first. Then you have to to take away the meat from half of them, protecting the others of their shells to make the dish look extra appetizing!
It is necessary to discard any unopened shells as this implies the clam is useless. Do not attempt to open clams! Secondly, if the liquid from the clams seems to have sand in it then you have to to filter it earlier than including the cooked clams and liquid to the remainder of the sauce components.
Really easy to make.
Linguine alle vongole is a dish that many individuals order in eating places however not often make at house. Nevertheless, it’s really fairly simple and there’s no residue fishy odor within the kitchen.
What you’ll get is a superb garlicky aroma that’s so mouth- watering! We typically prepare dinner the clams and eat them with out pasta, only a little bit of bread to absorb the sauce. Scrumptious too!
Let me know what you assume.
In the event you make this basic Italian seafood pasta dish I’d love to listen to the way it seems and if you happen to appreciated it. Please go away a remark right here on the weblog or on The Pasta Mission Fb web page. Trying ahead to listening to from you!
Buon appetito!
In the event you like linguine you’ll in all probability love these different basic recipes from Campania
Linguine al limone (with lemon and cream)
In the event you like seafood pasta recipes take a look at these conventional ones too
Baked fish ravioli from Liguria
Fregola with clams from Sardinia
Mussels alla Tarantina from Puglia
Save this recipe for later?
If you wish to save this scrumptious linguine pasta alle vongole recipe for later, you’ll be able to print it, bookmark this web page or reserve it to Pinterest.
Pin for Later.
Extra Seafood & Lake Fish Pasta Recipes
Reader Interactions