Chef John's Spaghetti with Red Clam Sauce

Chef John's Spaghetti with Red Clam Sauce
  • PREP TIME
    5 mins
  • COOK TIME
    15 mins
  • TOTAL TIME
    20 mins
  • SERVING
    4 People
  • VIEWS
    464

Transport yourself to the sun-kissed shores of Italy with this vibrant spaghetti dish. Brimming with the briny sweetness of clams, a whisper of spice, and the bright tang of tomatoes, this quick and easy recipe is a weeknight indulgence that tastes like a weekend escape.

Ingridients

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Nutrition

  • Carbohydrate
    117 g
  • Cholesterol
    72 mg
  • Fiber
    8 g
  • Protein
    44 g
  • Saturated Fat
    4 g
  • Sodium
    1514 mg
  • Sugar
    19 g
  • Fat
    17 g
  • Unsaturated Fat
    0 g

DIRECTIONS

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Image Step 01
01 Step

Recipe View In a large skillet, combine olive oil, minced garlic, capers, anchovy paste, and red pepper flakes. Place over medium heat and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant and the oil is infused with the flavors, about 5 minutes, being careful not to brown the garlic.

Image Step 02
02 Step

Recipe View Add tomato sauce to the skillet, then rinse the jar with 1/4 cup of water and add to the skillet. Stir in the white wine and the reserved clam juice. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce has slightly reduced and thickened, about 7-9 minutes.

Image Step 03
03 Step

Recipe View While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti according to package directions, subtracting 1 minute for al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.

Image Step 04
04 Step

Recipe View Drain the spaghetti and return it to the pot. Add the clams and the prepared red clam sauce to the pot with the spaghetti. Toss to combine.

Image Step 05
05 Step

Recipe View Cover the pot and let it sit off the heat for about 3 minutes, allowing the spaghetti to absorb the sauce and flavors.

Image Step 06
06 Step

Recipe View Stir in the Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil and/or parsley, and extra Parmesan cheese, if desired.

For a richer flavor, use good-quality canned or jarred clams packed in their natural juices. Avoid those packed in water.
Don't overcook the garlic! Burnt garlic will make the sauce bitter.
If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it.
Feel free to adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to your preferred level of spiciness.
Other seafood such as shrimp, mussels, or scallops could be added.

Dee Lynch

Written by

Our recipe authors are passionate food lovers who share thousands of diverse dishes from around the world. They bring daily cooking inspiration with delicious, easy-to-make recipes for every occasion.

RECIPE REVIEWS

Avarage Rating: 4.8/ 5 ( 154 Ratings)
Total Reviews: (5)
  • Pasquale Murphy

    The anchovy paste adds a wonderful depth of flavor.

  • Beth Nader

    This recipe is so quick and easy, it's perfect for a weeknight meal!

  • Lucienne Turcotte

    I added a pinch of sugar to the sauce to balance the acidity of the tomatoes.

  • Kobe Bailey

    I like to add a squeeze of lemon juice at the end for a little extra brightness.

  • Callie Kovacek

    My family loved this! I'll definitely be making it again.

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