How to Make Spaghetti Risottati alle Vongole - A Step-by-Step Guide

Spaghetti Risottati alle Vongole is a traditional Italian pasta dish that combines the rich flavors of spaghetti with the delicate taste of clams. This recipe originates from the coastal regions of Italy, where seafood is abundant and widely enjoyed. The dish is characterized by the creamy texture of the pasta, achieved through the risotto-like cooking method, and the briny sweetness of the clams, which infuse the entire dish with their distinct flavor.

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Ingredients

  • 8 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 red Thai chile pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 2 pounds verace clams in shell, scrubbed
  • ¾ cup white wine
  • 12 ounces spaghetti
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • ½ cup chopped flat-leaf (Italian) parsley
  • 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

Information

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 25 mins
  • Total Time: 45 mins
  • Servings: 4
  • Yield: 4 servings

  • Bring water to a boil in a stockpot; add salt. Reduce heat to a simmer.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add oil, followed by chile pepper and garlic. Cook and stir gently until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove garlic and chile pepper; discard. Add clams to the fragrant oil.
  • Pour wine over the clams and cover immediately. Let simmer until clams have opened, about 7 minutes. Remove clams using a slotted spoon to a large bowl. Cover to avoid losing their steam. Discard any unopened clams.
  • Pour four ladles of salted water into the skillet with the juice of the clams. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add spaghetti; move around with a pasta fork to keep from sticking together. Cook, adding a ladle or two of salted water as needed to keep spaghetti barely covered, until pasta is tender yet firm to the bite, 8 to 10 minutes. Add clams and sprinkle in lemon zest. Give the skillet a hefty toss to gently mix the clams in the thickened sauce.
  • Divide into four pasta bowls. Cover with parsley and serve immediately with empty plates on the side for the shells while eating.
  • Nutrition

    422 cal.

    • Total Fat: 8g
    • Saturated Fat: 1g
    • Cholesterol: 3mg
    • Sodium: 1775mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 65g
    • Dietary Fiber: 3g
    • Total Sugars: 3g
    • Protein: 12g
    • Vitamin C: 15mg
    • Calcium: 56mg
    • Iron: 5mg
    • Potassium: 306mg