Entree -- Clam Spaghetti (Quick!!!!!!)
Submitted by dvdlee on August 27, 2004 at 9:52 am

DESCRIPTION
Entree -- Clam Spaghetti (Quick!!!!!!)

SUMMARY
Yield 0 File under Misc. Recipes & Requests

INSTRUCTIONS
One of the fastest (and tastiest) meals for when you are super-rushed OR when you are cooking at a 'beach house' or 'camping'. It requires standard pantry ingredeints, only 1 pot (2 is nice), a bowl, a knife a can opener (DON'T forget the can opener!) and a cutting board. Plus serving plates!

However, you do have to use good quality oil, fresh garlic (NOT powder, etc.), fresh thyme is nice but not required, and a decent wine. The quality of the ingredients make the difference between a very good dish, and a blah concoction.

Another advantage is the ingredients do not spoil when transporting! While not a traditional Italian recipe (they would never put cheese on clams!), its fast, very tasty and filling.

Recipe has been modified from "Quick Meals for Busy Days" by Nathalie Dupree

1 pound angel hair pasta or vermicelli
2 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, peeled and finely minced
4 Six and a half oz. size cans of clams (reserve juice)
1/4 cup dry white wine (reserve the rest of the bottle for dining!)
1 Tablespoon chopped Fresh Thyme OR 3/4 teaspoon dried Thyme
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (flat or curly)
Salt
Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1/2 cup grated real Parmesan Reggiano Cheese. (if preparing away -- pregrate the cheese)

1 Pot Instructions:

Heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 5 minutes until almost soft. Stir in 2 Tablespoons of water into the garlic and add garlic/water mixture to onions. Cook another 1 to 2 minutes. (The water/garlic mixture is to ensure the garlic doesn't burn and mixes evenly).

Add the reserved clam juice and wine and boil until reduced by half -- around 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add clams, thyme and parsley. Taste and add crushed red pepper to taste and salt (be careful on the salt -- the clam juice can be salty!) DvdLee--I add around 1/3 of a teaspoon of red pepper -- just my taste)

In the same pot - boil water and cook angel hair. When done, drain. Add clam mixture into pasta and gently toss. Add 1/2 of the cheese and toss again. Serve. (Pass the extra cheese).

(If you have two pots -- heat the water in one, while you're making the clam sauce in a skillet or other pot -- and then combine.)

This will reheat well