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Pasta in a skillet with a red clam sauce.

Pasta with Red Clam Sauce

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  • Author: Kara Taylor- Home Cooks Guide
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Total Time: 22 minutes
  • Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
  • Category: Pasta
  • Method: Boiling
  • Cuisine: Italian

Description

This is a delicious pasta dish that is packed with nutrition and comes together in 30 minutes or less.  Perfect for a busy weeknight.


Ingredients

Scale

23 Tablespoons Olive Oil

3/4 cup Onion, chopped

1/4 cup Dry-Cured ham, chopped (or store-bought, bacon works too)

8 garlic cloves, minced

12 lemon wedges, seeds removed

1 cup marinara

2 cups (1 lb) chopped clams, drained and clam juice reserved

1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (more to taste)

1/4 teaspoon dried basil

1/8 teaspoon dried thyme

1 bay leaf

1 lb pasta, cooked el dente (2 minutes less than the recommended cooking time on the package)

salt and pepper to taste

2 Tablespoons cold butter, cut into thin slices

fresh chopped parsley and grated parmesan to garnish (optional)


Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Meanwhile, in a large 12 inch skillet, heat the olive oil.  Add the onions and ham and sauté for about 5 minutes.  Add the garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes longer.

When the large pot of water reaches a boil, add the pasta to it and set the time for 2 minutes less than the package recommends. 

Add the reserved clam juice, marinara, and spices to the skillet and bring it up to a boil.  Squeeze the juice from 1-2 lemon wedges and then place the wedges rind-side up in the skillet.  Using tongs or a wooden spoon, press the cut lemon pieces against the bottom of the pan while giving it a stir.

Boil the sauce for 5-10 minutes or until it thickens a bit but is still thinner than a basic marinara.

When the pasta timer goes off, drain the pasta and add it to the sauce with the chopped clams.  Continue to cook it in the sauce for another 2 minutes or until it is tender to your liking. 

Remove the skillet from the heat.  Wait for the sauce to stop boiling and then stir in the slices of cold butter. 

Season with salt and pepper and serve this delicious pasta sprinkled with parmesan and parsley (optional).