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Spaghetti with clams on tomato sauce

⏱ 60 min🍳 10 min👤 4 pp★★★☆☆

What is this spaghetti with clams on a tomato sauce? It’s a dish that offers the traditional taste of clams with an unexpected twist! I wanted to use quality ingredients, and to process them as little as possible in order to give you the natural taste of each in every mouthful. This is the philosophy that I like to apply to the cooking fish in general: if it is fresh and of excellent quality, fish is great just seared on a grill, served simply with bread and a nice glass of white wine. But what do we need to make this simple dish a little unusual? Fresh clams, of course, tomatoes, parsley, garlic and spaghetti .... And then, to make it a little more lively, a splash of tabasco. Fear not, the effect will be amazing! So, to the kitchen: tonight it’s going to be spaghetti with clams on a tomato sauce!

Ingredients

Nutritional values 520 kcal / serving
Protein
22g
Carbohydrates
62g
Fat
18g
Fiber
2g

* approximate values per serving

Information
60 minutes Preparation time
10 minutes Cooking time
Serves 4 persons
★★★☆☆ Challenging

Preparation

Wash the clams and leave them to soak in salted water for about half an hour. While the clams are soaking, make the tomato sauce. First blanch the tomatoes in boiling water and peel them. Remove the seeds from the tomato flesh and blitz with an electrical hand blender, together with the sugar, salt and a dash of Tabasco. Blend, adding 50 ml of olive oil to make an emulsion. Cook the clams by adding them to a large pan with hot oil and a dash of wine: once in the pan, cover and cook for 5 minutes until all the shells have opened. Blend the garlic with the parsley and olive oil and then add to the clams. Remove the clams from their shells; keep their cooking liquid aside. With this leftover cooking water make a sauce with a little flour. When the spaghetti is ready, add to this sauce and then add the clams. On the serving plate, make a bed of the tomato sauce and in the centre add the spaghetti and clam sauce mixed together. Here is your spaghetti with clams on tomato sauce!

Tips
Bought the fresh clams and, to preserve the best in fresh, put them on the shelf less cold recline on the same damp cloth.
Trivia
When you go in search of clams, keep in mind that the latter is a rather generic term, whereas there are clams, lupine and other varieties still.

Step by step

Ingredients
Ingredients
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Additional information

Spaghetti with Clams on Tomato Emulsion with Cherry Tomatoes

One of the tastiest and freshest variations of spaghetti with clams is the one that uses fresh cherry tomatoes. In this preparation, the cherry tomatoes are halved and sautéed in a pan with garlic and oil, then combined with the clams during cooking. This technique not only enriches the dish with flavor but also adds a splash of color that makes the presentation even more inviting. The sweetness of the cherry tomatoes perfectly balances the saltiness of the clams, creating a harmony of flavors that will delight seafood lovers. Don't forget to finish the dish with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley for a final touch of freshness.

Spaghetti with Clams on Neapolitan Tomato Emulsion

The Neapolitan culinary tradition offers a particular interpretation of spaghetti with clams. In this regional version, a touch of fresh chili can be added to give the dish a bit of spiciness. The preparation remains faithful to the classic recipe, but the addition of typical Campanian ingredients, such as high-quality extra virgin olive oil and local white wine, further enriches the flavor. Additionally, the dish can be completed with a generous grating of pecorino, which will make everything even creamier and more enveloping. This version is perfect for those who want to savor a dish that encapsulates the essence of the sea and Neapolitan tradition.

Spaghetti with Clams on Light Tomato Emulsion

For those who desire a lighter dish, spaghetti with clams on tomato emulsion can be prepared in a light version. In this preparation, traditional pasta can be replaced with whole wheat or buckwheat spaghetti, which adds extra fiber and nutrients. Additionally, the amount of oil used can be reduced, opting for steaming the clams or cooking them in a non-stick pan without adding fats. The tomato emulsion remains unchanged, but a low-sugar and low-salt tomato can be used to keep the dish healthy and tasty. This variant is ideal for those following a balanced diet without giving up the flavor of the sea.

Nutritional Benefits of Spaghetti with Clams on Tomato Emulsion

Spaghetti with clams on tomato emulsion is not only a delicious dish but also rich in health benefits. Clams are an excellent source of lean protein, iron, and vitamin B12, essential for the health of the nervous system and for the production of red blood cells. Additionally, tomatoes provide antioxidants like lycopene, which has been associated with various health benefits, including reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. A serving of spaghetti with clams contains about 400-500 calories, depending on the amount of oil and pasta used. This combination of ingredients makes the dish not only tasty but also nutritious and balanced.

Can Spaghetti with Clams on Tomato Emulsion be Frozen?

Freezing spaghetti with clams on tomato emulsion is not recommended, as the clams may lose their texture and flavor during the thawing process. However, if you wish to prepare a portion in advance, you can freeze the tomato emulsion separately and cook the pasta at the time of serving. This way, you can enjoy a fresh and flavorful dish without compromising the quality of the ingredients. Additionally, it is important to remember that cooked pasta tends to become mushy once thawed, so it is better to keep it raw and cook it at the last moment for the best possible result.