Description
This Clams and Linguine recipe is an easy and quick pasta dish that combines tender linguine with savory clams in a light garlic and herb sauce. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, it brings a touch of elegance with simple ingredients and is ready in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 16-ounce package linguine
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 3 6.5-ounce cans chopped or minced clams in juice
- 1 8-ounce bottle clam juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
- Fresh parsley (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the linguine according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Heat Olive Oil: In a small saucepan over medium heat, warm the extra virgin olive oil until shimmering but not smoking.
- Sauté Garlic and Spices: Add the minced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), and dried basil to the olive oil. Cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant and slightly golden, about 1-2 minutes, taking care not to burn it.
- Add Clams and Clam Juice: Pour in the minced clams along with their juice and the bottle of clam juice. Stir to combine and reduce the heat to low.
- Simmer Sauce: Allow the clam sauce to gently simmer on low heat while the pasta finishes cooking, letting the flavors meld together, about 5-7 minutes.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: When the linguine is cooked and drained, add it to the saucepan with the clam sauce. Toss well to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce.
- Serve: Plate the linguine and clams, garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and serve with dairy-free parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast for a flavorful, dairy-free finishing touch.
Notes
- This dish is incredibly quick to prepare, making it perfect for a fast yet elegant weeknight dinner.
- Using canned clams and clam juice keeps the recipe accessible and simple without sacrificing flavor.
- Dairy-free parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast is recommended to keep the dish dairy-free and add umami.
- Optional crushed red pepper flakes add a subtle heat but can be omitted for a milder flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 262 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 123 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.001 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 2 mg
