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Linguine with Clams · White Wine and Garlic

Linguine with Clams in White Wine Garlic Sauce

Fresh clams steam open in garlicky white wine, and their juices become the sauce for the linguine. Feels special, takes about 35 minutes.

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Prep
15 min
Cook
20 min
Total
35 min
Serves
4
Level
Easy

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ lb fresh clams, small hard-shell, such as littlenecks or Manila
  • 12 oz linguine
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt, for the pasta water
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
  • ¾ cup dry white wine
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • ⅓ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 lemon, cut into wedges

Steps

  1. Scrub the clams under cold running water with a stiff brush.
  2. Throw away any clams with cracked shells, and any open ones that don't close when you tap them on the counter.
  3. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 1 tablespoon salt.
  4. Cook the linguine 2 minutes less than the package says.
  5. While the pasta cooks, heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the garlic and pepper flakes and stir until the garlic is pale golden.
  6. Pour in the wine and bring it to a boil.
  7. Add the clams, cover tightly and cook, shaking the pot once or twice, until the shells open.
  8. Move the opened clams to a bowl with tongs. Give any closed ones 2 more minutes, then throw away any that still haven't opened.
  9. Scoop out 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the linguine.
  10. Add the linguine and butter to the clam broth and toss over medium-high heat until the pasta soaks up much of the liquid. Add pasta water if it looks dry.
  11. Return the clams and any juices from the bowl, add the parsley and toss. Serve with lemon wedges.

Tip: Buy clams the day you cook them and keep them in a bowl in the fridge, uncovered, not in water or a sealed bag.

Tip: Clams are cooked when the shells open and the meat is opaque and firm.

Storage: Best fresh. Refrigerate leftovers, clams removed from the shells, up to 1 day.

Estimated nutrition per serving: 610 calories · protein 25 g · carbohydrates 71 g · fiber 3 g · sugars 3 g · fat 22 g (saturated 6 g) · sodium 75 mg. Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Based on 9 of 9 ingredients.