Dad's White Clam Sauce

Dive into the comforting, coastal flavors of "Dad's White Clam Sauce," a classic Italian-American pasta dish that brings the seaside to your table with every bite. This recipe combines the briny sweetness of fresh littleneck clams and the richness of canned clams, all simmered in a fragrant garlic, shallot, and dry white wine broth. Elevated by a touch of red pepper flakes, fresh parsley, and a hint of dried oregano, the sauce clings perfectly to al dente linguine or spaghetti. Ready in just 30 minutes, this simple yet elegant dish is perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions. Serve it with a squeeze of fresh lemon and a slice of crusty bread for a restaurant-quality experience at home. Perfect for seafood lovers, this easy white clam sauce pasta recipe is a must-try!

Nutriscore Rating: 76/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 2 tablespoons Unsalted butter
• 6 cloves Garlic
• 1 medium Shallot
• 0.5 cup Dry white wine
• 2 pounds Fresh clams (littleneck or manila)
• 1 can Canned clams (minced), with juice
• 1 cup Clam juice (bottled)
• 0.25 cup Fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
• 0.5 teaspoon Red pepper flakes
• 0.25 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
• 0.5 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1 pound Pasta (linguine or spaghetti)
• 1 whole Lemon (optional, for serving)

Directions

Step 1

Begin by preparing your ingredients. Mince the garlic, finely chop the shallot, and chop the fresh parsley. Rinse the fresh clams thoroughly under cold water and scrub to remove any sand or debris. Discard any clams that are cracked or do not close when tapped.

Step 2

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain and set the pasta aside.

Step 3

While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil and butter in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and chopped shallots, and sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and softened, but not browned.

Step 4

Increase the heat to medium-high and add the dry white wine. Let it simmer for about 2 minutes to reduce slightly.

Step 5

Add the fresh clams to the skillet, along with the canned clams and their juice, the bottled clam juice, dried oregano, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and kosher salt. Stir to combine.

Step 6

Cover the skillet with a lid and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the fresh clams open. Discard any clams that do not open during cooking.

Step 7

Reduce the heat to low and stir in the chopped fresh parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Step 8

Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat the noodles with the clam sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it.

Step 9

Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley and lemon wedges on the side for squeezing, if desired. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2145.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2300.5

Total Fat 70.1g	0%
Saturated Fat 22.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 480.4mg	0%
Sodium 3203.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 192.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 12.7g	0%
Total Sugars 9.0g
Protein 193.8g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 659.8mg	0%
Iron 58.9mg	0%
Potassium 2543.5mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 29.0%

Protein: 35.6%

Carbs: 35.3%