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Easy spaghetti pasta with clams and zucchini, white wine, olive oil, butter and garlic. This restaurant quality weeknight dinner takes only 5 key ingredients and ready in 20 minutes!
Spaghetti With Clams
This perfect Italian pasta is absolutely delicious with al-dente spaghetti pasta in a briny and savory clam sauce.
Loaded with clams and paired with fresh zucchinis, this light and refreshing pasta is the perfect spring dish.
I have a thing for Pasta alle Vongole, or the Italian words for clams pasta. This is the dish that I always order at Italian restaurants. Just the sheer mention of the name would set my mouth watering.
However, dining out, it’s expensive. Lucky for me, I can cook just about anything.
Check out my Garlic Butter Razor Clams recipe for more delicious clam recipes!
How To Make Clams Pasta
Homemade clams pasta is very easy. The recipe calls for only few key ingredients: spaghetti, Manila clams (or little neck clams), garlic, white wine, Italian parsley and olive oil (and butter).
It’s that simple. To make the dish even better, I added zucchini, which is seasonal and healthy.
You will need copious amount of white wine for this Spaghetti with Clams recipe. The white wine allows the clams to steam and cook, hence flavoring the pasta with the briny taste of the fresh clams.
Together with olive oil, garlic, salt, ground black pepper and Italian parsley, magic happens. A squirt of fresh lemon juice completes the taste.
Tips And Tricks For The Best Spaghetti With Clams
- Manila Clams – I prefer Manila clams as they are “meatier” and have a robust briny flavors that make the white wine clam sauce to die for. Be generous with your clams. Use a good 1.5-2 lbs clams. Another option would be to use the meat from my Garlic Butter Razor Clams recipe.
- Al Dente – cook the pasta al dente so there is a bite.
- White wine or Japanese cooking sake – I find Japanese cooking sake a great substitute for white wine.
- Butter – other than olive oil, add some butter. Butter makes everything better!
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe is only 337 calories per serving.
What To Serve With Spaghetti With Clams And Zucchini
For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
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Spaghetti with Clams and Zucchini
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 – 2 lbs (750g-1kg) manila clams , or little neck clams
- 8 oz (230g) spaghetti
- 1/2 lb (250g) zucchini
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 – 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup white wine , or Japanese cooking sake
- 1 teaspoon salt , or to taste
- 3 dashes ground black pepper
- 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Instructions
- Soak the clams in salted water for 10 minutes. Scrub the surface, then rinse them with cold water a few times until the water runs clear. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the pasta al dente according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Trim the ends of the zucchini. Cut it into rounds, then slice the rounds in half.
- Heat a skillet with olive oil and melted butter, using up to 4 tablespoons of butter for the best results. Sauté the garlic until it turns light brown, then add the clams and stir a few times before adding the white wine. As soon as the clams start to open, add the zucchini, salt, ground black pepper, and lemon juice. Stir and cook until all the clams have opened.
- Transfer the spaghetti to the skillet and stir to combine well with the clams. Add the chopped parsley and mix thoroughly. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Pasta is my favorite dish. mostly i love creamy pasta. but, i can’t cook it. your article makes it easy for me and it’s looking delicious.
I like to eat Pasta. This food is very delicious. I can’t to make pasta. After reading your article, I will try to make pasta. Thank you so much for giving us this recipe…
Yes, try this clam pasta, it’s very good!