Clams in red sauce is such an easy recipe to make. They can be made by themselves or tossed in with some pasta. This is one of my favorite Italian dishes, and I hope you will add it to your list as well. So let’s get on to making this awesome seafood dish.
Dreaming About Italian Red Clam Sauce
I really do dream about the deliciousness of good clams. They are so versatile and can really impress your guests.
Think about it, how many times have people made good clams for you? Not many, right?
I’m not sure what it is but lots of people seem to be intimated by making seafood other than salmon or shrimp. Now, there’s nothing wrong with those, and they are staples in my house, but sometimes it’s nice to jump outside one’s comfort zone.
And the best thing though is that jumping out has never been easier.
Beautiful Clams
Clams In Red Sauce Ingredients:
So what do we need to make these awesome clams in red sauce?
Obviously clams are needed. I usually use Littlenecks. But like I mentioned in my other clam recipes, use what is good and fresh. Cockles and mussels would work well if you can’t get Litttlenecks. Read this article on clams for some fun facts.
Most clams you can buy from Costco or other big sellers, such as Whole Foods, have purged clams. If you want to go the extra mile and purge them, go for it. Definitely ask your fish monger if they have been purged, hopefully they will know.
Tomatoes are also needed for the sauce. What type? I like to make my quick sauces out of canned whole plum tomatoes and 1 can of tomato paste. It’s a combo that has never failed me.
Garlic is also needed, and is a key flavor component in this dish. Some basil, olive oil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes complete the list.
Red Clam Sauce Process:
Just 2 simple steps to make this dish.
Step 1:
The first step is to make the sauce and keep it warm. Slice up 10 cloves of garlic and sauté in a sauce pan with olive oil for a few minutes on medium heat. Sautéeing the garlic really brings out its flavor.
Open your can of tomatoes and crush them – if you prefer a chunkier sauce, crush with your hands. If you want a smoother sauce, you can blend them by using the pulse feature on your blender.
After the garlic is light brown in color, add the crushed up tomatoes, paste, and 4 oz of water and make the sauce. Add salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes and stir it all together.
15 minutes later and the sauce is done. Set it on another burner on low heat to keep it warm.
Step 2:
The clams should be washed and then steamed with 4 ounces of water. To steam them, place the clams and water in a lidded wide pan. Keep the heat at medium and let them cook until they open.
Clams open at their own pace, some will open in 2 minutes, some might take 8 minutes. I usually stop the cooking at 10 minutes and discard the unopened ones. Those are usually dead and will not open.
The best thing to do is remove the clams in batches as they open, ensuring that you do not overcook them. When they are all done set the clams aside.
In that same pan, add half the sauce and turn heat to medium-low. Cook the sauce for 1 minute to heat it up, then add the clams and mix it all together. Add the basil, stir it up and bring to the table to eat immediately.
I love to serve the clams in red sauce with crusty Italian bread and some more olive oil to drizzle all over everyone’s plated clams.
Don’t forget the remaining sauce can be used to make the clams even more saucy, or used on the side for more bread dipping. Enjoy!
The sauce is looking perfect for the clams.
The clams pulled out of the pan as they open.
The clams and garlicky red sauce combined.
If you are looking for some non Italian clams check out my Thai Green Curry Clams.
Want more Italian recipes?
How about my easy Italian sausage and broccolini sheet pan recipe. Another quick and delicious recipe are these roasted peppers with seasoned breadcrumbs.
Got a little bit of time on the weekend and want to impress everyone, check out this Italian braciole recipe.
Looking for pizza ideas? My white pizza or these delicious sausage rolls are both easy and awesome to make with store bought pizza dough.
DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?
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Clams in Red Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Littleneck clams
- 1 28 oz can of whole plum tomatoes
- 1 6 oz can of tomato paste
- 10 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 bunch basil
Instructions
- Tear the basil and wash. Set aside about a 1/4 cup of washed basil leaves.
- Slice up ten cloves of garlic. Saute garlic with 2 Tbsp of olive oil on medium heat for 2 minutes in sauce pan.
- Blend whole plum tomatoes on pulse setting or use hand and squeeze them to break them up in a bowl. Be careful not to make a mess if using the squeezing method.
- Add tomatoes and all the tomato paste to sauce pan. Add 4 ounces of water, all the salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine and cook for 15 minutes on medium low.
- Wash clams to remove any sand or debris.
- Heat a clean large pan on medium-high and add 4 oz. of water and clams. Cover.
- Clams should open within 5-10 minutes. Remove clams as they open. Continue to cook unopened clams for 10 minutes and remove all the open ones. Place all the open clams in a serving bowl and set aside.
- After 10 minutes discard any unopened clams. In the empty clam pan add half the sauce and heat for 1 minute on medium-low. After 1 minute add the clams to the sauce. Stir it all together and turn off heat.
- Add basil to pan, stir it all together and serve. Serve in plates with a drizzle of olive oil, and some crusty bread. Use remaining sauce if needed or dip the bread into it. Enjoy!
Notes
- This whole recipe can be adapted to make a large meal with pasta, or could easily be doubled or tripled if serving for many guests.
- Mussels are a great substitute.
- Adjust salt/pepper to taste.
- Crushed red pepper is optional.
Nutrition
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