Pierre Franeys Pasta With Clams Recipes

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.

SPAGHETTI WITH CLAMS AND GREEN BEANS

Steps:

• Chop the clams coarsely; there should be about 1 cup.
• Trim or break off the ends of the beans and remove the strings. Cut the beans into 2-inch lengths.
• Bring the water, salted to taste, to a boil in a kettle and add the green beans. Bring to a simmer and cook for 6 to 7 minutes. Do not overcook; the beans should remain crisp. Drain and reserve the cooking liquid.
• Bring the reserved cooking liquid to a boil. Add the spaghetti, stir and cook for about 6 minutes. Drain.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the garlic and cook briefly, stirring, without browning. Add the tomatoes, pepper flakes and the reserved clam juice. Cook, stirring, over medium heat until the liquid has been reduced to about 2 cups.
• Add the drained spaghetti, beans, vodka, if desired, cream and freshly ground pepper. Bring to a simmer. Cook until the spaghetti is al dente, stirring, and add the clams and basil. Toss and cook 1 minute. Serve immediately with peccorino or Parmesan cheese, if desired.

CLAMS WITH LINGUINE

Steps:

• Shuck clams or have them shucked. Reserve the juice and clams separately. Chop or slice clams coarsely. There should be about 1 cup chopped clams and 2 cups juice.
• Trim off ends of zucchini. Cut zucchini lengthwise into quarters and each quarter into thin slices crosswise. There should be about 2 cups.
• Cut tomatoes into 1/2-inch cubes.
• Bring 2 1/2 quarts of water to boil.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet and add garlic and pepper flakes. Cook briefly, stirring, and add zucchini and tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and stir. Add reserved clam juice. Bring to boil and add basil leaves.
• Drop linguine into the water. If the pasta is fresh, cook 1 to 1 1/2 minutes; if dried, cook 9 minutes or to desired degree of doneness. Drain quickly.
• Put linguine in the sauce and add clams. Toss to blend. Serve immediately.

PIERRE FRANEY'S PASTA WITH CLAMS

Steps:

• In a 10- or 12-inch frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat and fry the garlic until fragrant, taking care not to burn it. Add the thyme and clam juice and reduce by half, about 4 minutes. Add the wine and reduce, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup heavy cream and simmer till the mixture thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Combine 1 cup of the basil leaves and the clams and add to the sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside and keep warm.
• Cook the fettuccine until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, then drain. Add the pasta to the sauce and stir to coat. Add Parmesan to taste. Correct the seasonings. If the sauce is too thick, add some of the reserved pasta water or additional cream, sparingly. Simmer the pasta and stir until sauce is the desired thickness. Add more basil to taste and serve immediately.