Gnocchi With Garlicky Red Clam Sauce Recipes

LINGUINI WITH RED CLAM SAUCE (LINGUINI CON LE VONGOLE AL SUGO)

Steps:

• A Neopolitan custom is to let the clams soak in very cold water with a tsp of salt and the juice of one lemon for about 1/2 hour.
• This will remove any sand or grit in the clams.
• This step is optional, but I do suggest that you at least scrub the outer shells of the littlenecks quite well with a vegetable brush.
• Bring a large stockpot of water to a boil for the linguini.
• In another pan, heat olive oil over medium high heat.
• Add shallots and crushed red pepper and sauté until shallots are softened.
• Add chopped garlic and anchovies, and saute until anchovies begin to melt into the olive oil, careful not to let garlic get too dark.
• Carefully add chopped tomatoes with their liquid.
• Stir to combine, and add dried basil and oregano.
• Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer sauce until ready to cook clams and linguini.
• Add little neck clams to the simmering tomato sauce, stir to coat well, and cover.
• While clams begin to steam in sauce, generously salt the boiling pasta water, add linguini, and cook until al dente, (about 7 minutes).
• As clams begin to open, I remove them to a large bowl and cover, until pasta and remaining clams are cooked.
• Drain pasta, and transfer to a serving bowl.
• Top with tomato sauce and toss with chopped fresh basil.
• Finally, add cooked clams over top the pasta, still in their shells.

CRISPY GNOCCHI WITH LITTLENECK CLAMS

Steps:

• Preheat to 425°F. Prick potatoes all over with a fork and place directly on oven rack; roast until flesh is very soft when squeezed gently and skin is crisp, 60-75 minutes. Immediately slice open lengthwise and scoop out flesh; set skins aside. Pass potato flesh through ricer onto a clean work surface. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, bring clams, reserved potato skins, and 1 cup water to a boil in a large pot. Cover and cook, shaking pot occasionally, until clams open, 5-8 minutes; discard any clams that do not open. Pluck clams from shells and place in a medium bowl. Cover and chill until ready to use. Pour clam cooking liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl. Cover and chill until ready to use.
• Dust riced potatoes with 3/4 cup flour and sprinkle with 2 tsp. or 1 1/2 tsp. salt. Drizzle egg over, then use a fork or your fingers to gently mix ingredients until just incorporated and a smooth dough forms (be careful not to overwork or cooked gnocchi will be gluey and tough), about 3 minutes. Transfer dough to a pastry bag fitted with 1/2" round tip. (Alternatively, use a large resealable plastic bag and snip off 1 corner.)
• Pipe dough onto a lightly floured surface into 24" lengths about 1/2" thick. Cut crosswise into 1/2" pieces and dust lightly with flour. Arrange gnocchi in a single layer on a lightly floured rimmed baking sheet.
• Working in 3 batches, cook gnocchi in a large pot of simmering lightly salted water until doubled in size and they float to the top, about 3 minutes (a minute or so more if frozen). Using a slotted spoon, transfer gnocchi to a rimmed baking sheet as they are done cooking. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking liquid.
• Melt a third of the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add one-third of gnocchi to skillet and arrange in a single layer. Cook, undisturbed, until dark brown and crisp underneath, about 5 minutes. Transfer to another rimmed baking sheet. Working in 2 batches, repeat with remaining butter and remaining gnocchi.
• Wipe out skillet and heat oil in skillet over medium-high. Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 2 minutes. Add clam cooking liquid and 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid and bring to a simmer; cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Add clams, gnocchi, and lemon juice to sauce; season with salt and pepper. Cook, gently tossing and adding more pasta cooking liquid as needed, until sauce coats gnocchi.
• Divide gnocchi among bowls and top with chives.
• Do Ahead
• Gnocchi can be formed 1 month ahead. Freeze on baking sheet until solid; transfer to resealable plastic bags. Clams can be cooked 6 hours ahead. Cover and chill clams and cooking liquid separately.

GNOCCHI WITH MUSHROOM CLAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Saute onions and celery in butter until soft.
• Add garlic and cook one minute more.
• Add mushrooms and cook five minutes.
• Gradually sprinkle flour into mushroom mixture.
• Add clams and juice.
• Add salt, pepper, thyme and cayenne.
• Add the milk a little at a time, stirring until thick.
• Serve over cooked gnocchi.
• Sprinkle with parsley.