Linguine with White Clam Sauce

By AllisonClayman

From your kitchen: One of our fans (in Denmark!) perfected this classic meal. Write in and tell us your own house specialty.

Ingredients

• coarse salt
• 12 ounces linguine
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
• 3/4 cup dry white wine
• 2 pounds small clams (50 to 55), such as Manila, rinsed and scrubbed
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, coarsely chopped

Preparation

Step 1

In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta 1 minute less than package instructions for al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water; drain pasta. Set aside.

While pasta cooks, heat oil over medium in a Dutch oven or 5-quart heavy pot with a lid. Add onion, garlic, and red-pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft, 5 to 7 minutes.

Add wine, and bring to a boil; cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half, about 2 minutes.

Add clams; cover, and simmer, shaking pot occasionally, until clams open wide, 3 to 5 minutes. (Discard any that havent opened after 5 minutes.)

Add pasta to clam mixture in pot; continue to cook until pasta is al dente, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in butter and parsley. Add some reserved pasta water to thin sauce if necessary; season with salt.