Pasta With Clams Meridionale Recipes

PASTA WITH CLAMS AND MUSSELS MARINIERE

Steps:

• In a large stock pot, bring salted water to a boil. Debeard mussels. Set aside.
• In a large saute pan, over high heat, combine the butter and olive oil. Add the shallots and garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until translucent. Do not brown. Add the chili flakes and stir to combine.
• Add the reserved mussels, clams, tarragon, thyme, and rosemary and continue to saute until herbs begin to turn fragrant. Deglaze with white wine and season with salt and pepper. Cover the pan and continue to cook over high heat until the shellfish have opened, about 3 to 4 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add a couple tablespoons of salt and a drizzle of olive oil to the boiling water. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain. Remove cover from saucepan containing the shellfish and discard the sprig of rosemary. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Add the cooked pasta, chopped parsley and tarragon, and Parmesan. Toss with sauce and shellfish until well blended. Serve immediately.

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.

PASTA WITH WHITE CLAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. In a saucepan, saute garlic and anchovies in oil for 3 minutes, breaking up anchovies. Stir in the clam juice, clams, water, oregano, parsley, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until sauce is reduced by half. Drain pasta; toss with clam sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan.

PASTA WITH CLAMS MERIDIONALE

Steps:

• Shuck the clams and reserve the clams and the juice. There should be about one cup of clams and one and one-half cups of juice.
• Put the clams on a flat surface and chop them finely.
• Bring the water to the boil, and add one-half cup of the clam juice and salt.
• Add the spaghetti to the kettle and let it boil as the sauce is prepared. Cook the spaghetti to the desired state of doneness. We prefer it al dente.
• Add the oil to a small skillet and heat it. Add the remaining clam juice to another skillet or casserole large enough to toss the spaghetti in sauce once it is added. Drain the spaghetti and add it to the clam juice. Add the cream and stir. Let heat slowly as you prepare the sauce.
• Add the clams, garlic and parsley to the oil and heat for about 30 seconds or until thoroughly hot. Do not cook. Pour and scrape this over the spaghetti and add the butter. Toss. Add the Pernod or Ricard and serve immediately.