Linguine alle vongole recipe (pasta with clams) – The Pasta Venture

May 14, 2025

14

Of all of the fantastic seafood pasta recipes there are right here in Italy, pasta with clams might be the highest of the very best vendor record. Not shocking given how scrumptious this iconic Neapolitan dish is! This linguine alle vongole is my Sicilian hubby’s recipe. He’s fairly beneficiant with the garlic and peperoncino nevertheless it’s simply the best way we prefer it!

Linguine alle vongole (pasta with clams)

Crimson clam sauce or white?

Like many different related dishes, pasta with clams is historically made in what Italians name a pink or white model (rosso o bianco); in different phrases, with tomatoes or with out. We usually eat our vongole pasta with out tomatoes.

My hubby is the chef after we wish to eat linguine alle vongole. Being Sicilian, he’s a star on the subject of seafood dishes and I’m joyful to depart him to it. In my view, his pasta with clams is the very best I’ve ever tasted and I’m not saying that as a result of we’re married!

The author's husband Salvatore serving his linguine alle vongole. — My Sicilian husband Salvatore serving his linguine vongole

Components.

The appropriate clams or vongole.

The primary ingredient for a ‘actual’ Italian pasta alle vongole is ‘vongola verace’ generally often known as the cross-cut carpet shell clam. This ridged shell clam is discovered each farmed and wild right here in Italy, however I’ve learn that the style is identical as they eat solely what’s within the sea.

For those who do discover vongole veraci, they could be a bit costlier than different clams. However they’re price the additional value, undoubtedly the very best clams! Plus, aside from being actually scrumptious, these clams are self-cleaning so that they’re unlikely to have sand in them and make the dish a lot simpler to organize.

After all, many individuals make pasta alle vongole with different forms of clams. The Manila clam, which many Italians name the faux ‘verace’, is broadly farmed within the Adriatic sea and Sardinia. Consequently, these are utilized by many cooks to make linguine alle vongole.

Ingredients for linguine alle vongole; clams, olive oil, garlic, parsley and peperoncino.

Manila clams look similar to vongole veraci. One other fashionable clam is the rayed artemis clam. These are smaller, whiter and extra rounded however nonetheless style actually good too! A well-liked various within the US are little necks that are small clams much like Manila clams and broadly out there in North America.

After all, it’s attainable to make use of canned clams, however in my view you gained’t get anyplace close to the identical flavour, as with recent dwell clams.

Washed clams in deep frying pan. — Prepare dinner the clams alone.

The pasta.

Historically, this recipe is made with spaghetti, vermicelli or linguine. We used linguine made by La Molisana. I choose linguine for this dish as a result of this pasta has extra floor space to absorb the sauce. However, any slender lengthy pasta works properly. Spaghetti alle vongole is a well-liked restaurant merchandise within the US. Italians don’t often use quick pasta on this dish.

Different components.

Aside from the linguine and clams, this linguine pasta alle vongole recipe has only a few different components. In reality, most variations comprise nothing greater than garlic, peperoncino (Italian pink chili pepper), white wine, olive oil and parsley.

The garlic: Recent garlic is a should for pasta with clams. We like this dish very garlicky and use as much as 6-8 cloves. After all, you should utilize much less when you choose.

The peperoncino: You should utilize recent peperoncino (pink chilli peppers) or pink chili flakes. Once more, the quantity you employ is dependent upon private style.

Recent parsley: Recent parsley leaves can also be a should, dried would not work properly. The parsley is often added earlier than serving. It provides a beautiful herby freshness to vongole pasta.

Chopped fresh parsley and garlic in small bowl. Red pepper flakes in small bowl. — Put together the opposite components.

Olive oil: Additional virgin olive oil has the very best taste. We use the olive oil to prepare dinner the components and add a little bit earlier than serving.

White wine: Wine is non-obligatory. We do not at all times use it and my Sicilian husband feels it smothers from the opposite flavors. For those who add wine use a dry white wine corresponding to a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.

Cooked clams in large bowl and filtered clam cooking in small white bowl. — Filter the clam cooking water.

Hold it easy.

I just lately learn an article about this recipe that stated, when you’re going to spend a bit for recent clams, then you definitely don’t wish to smother their style with plenty of different flavours. I completely agree with this standpoint! Having stated that, my hubby is fairly beneficiant with the garlic and peperoncino. However, you should utilize much less when you choose!

Chopped garlic and peperoncino flakes cooking in deep frying pan. — Sauté the garlic and peperoncino in olive oil.

Step be step directions.

1) Wash the clams in chilly working water and take away any with damaged shells. Some sorts of clams want lots of rinsing if they’ve sand in them. However you can too filter the liquid after you have got precooked them, so don’t fear a lot in regards to the sand.

2) Peel and finely chop the cloves of garlic and wash and chop the parsley.

3) Put a pot of water on to boil for the pasta. When it begins to boil add the pasta. You in all probability don’t want salt because the clams will already be a little bit salty. Prepare dinner the pasta al dente in line with the package deal instructions.

Clams in deep frying pan with garlicn and peperoncino. — Add the shelled and unshelled clams to the pan, combine and prepare dinner.

4) Within the meantime, put the clams in a deep frying pan and prepare dinner lined over a medium to excessive warmth till they’ve opened.

5) Take away the meat from half of the clam shells conserving the remainder intact and if mandatory, filter the liquid that the clams produce by a advantageous material right into a bowl. Discard the empty shells.

Clam cooking water being added to clams in deep frying pan. — Add filtered clam cooking water.

6) Warmth the olive oil in a frying pan or skillet. Add the garlic and peperoncino. Prepare dinner over a medium warmth till the garlic begins to melt.

7) Add the clams (with shells and with out) with half their liquid to the pan and prepare dinner for a couple of minutes. Add the white wine (if utilizing) and prepare dinner additional till the alcohol evaporates. If the sauce appears dry, pour in the remainder of the clam liquid. Proceed cooking for one more 3-5 minutes after which flip off the warmth.

8) When the pasta is cooked, drain it and add to the pan with the cooked clams. Combine every thing collectively properly over a low warmth. Then add a tablespoon of olive oil and most the chopped parsley. Combine once more and serve instantly with one other sprinkling of chopped parsley, if required.

Cooked linguine added to pan with clams. — Add the cooked linguine.

Prepare dinner’s Tip.

There are simply 2 factors that want care to ensure your linguine pasta alle vongole is ideal. Firstly, on this model the clams are cooked alone first. Then you will have to take away the meat from half of them, conserving the others of their shells to make the dish look extra appetizing!

Chopped parsley in pan with linguine and clams. — Add chopped parsley, a little bit olive oil, combine and serve.

It is vital to discard any unopened shells as this implies the clam is useless. Do not attempt to open clams! Secondly, if the liquid from the clams seems to have sand in it then you will have to filter it earlier than including the cooked clams and liquid to the remainder of the sauce components.

Really easy to make.

Linguine alle vongole is a dish that many individuals order in eating places however hardly ever make at residence. Nonetheless, it’s truly fairly simple and there’s no residue fishy scent within the kitchen.

What you’ll get is a superb garlicky aroma that’s so mouth- watering! We generally prepare dinner the clams and eat them with out pasta, only a little bit of bread to absorb the sauce. Scrumptious too!

Let me know what you assume.

For those who make this traditional Italian seafood pasta dish I’d love to listen to the way it seems and when you preferred it. Please depart a remark right here on the weblog or on The Pasta Venture Fb web page. Wanting ahead to listening to from you!

Buon appetito!

For those who like linguine you’ll in all probability love these different traditional recipes from Campania

Linguine al limone (with lemon and cream)

Linguine with child octopus

For those who like seafood pasta recipes try these conventional ones too

Baked fish ravioli from Liguria

Fregola with clams from Sardinia

Mussels alla Tarantina from Puglia

Save this recipe for later?

If you wish to save this scrumptious linguine pasta alle vongole recipe for later, you possibly can print it, bookmark this web page or reserve it to Pinterest.

Pin for Later.