 
 Recipe
   Savor the exquisite flavors of this classic Italian dish featuring tender linguine pasta tossed in a savory sauce made with fresh clams, aromatic sausage, roasted peppers, and juicy tomatoes. Garnished with chopped parsley and served with crusty bread and a salad, this Linguine with Clams is sure to impress any palate.
| 1 | dozen fresh clams | 
|---|---|
| 1 | handful of linguine or spaghetti noodles | 
| 1 | large sausage link with fennel and garlic | 
| 5 | large garlic cloves, minced | 
| 1 | jalapeno pepper (optional) | 
| 2 | tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and diced | 
| 1 | teaspoon kosher salt | 
| 1 | teaspoon sugar | 
| 1⁄4 | teaspoon seasoned pepper, divided | 
| 1⁄8 | teaspoon red pepper flakes | 
| • | dried oregano | 
| 1 | lemon | 
| 1 | tablespoon parmesan cheese, finely grated | 
| 2 | tablespoons flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped | 
| For preparing the clams and pasta | |
|---|---|
| 1. | Clean the clams of all grit and heat 2 inches of water to a salted boil in a wide pan. Place the clams in the hot water, cover, and cook until opened, approximately 5 minutes. Remove the clams from the shells, chop them coarsely, and set aside. Reserve the clam broth. | 
| 2. | In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions. | 
| For preparing the sauce | |
| 1. | Cook the sausage over medium-high heat until crumbled. Set aside. For added spice, roast the jalapeno pepper until charred, then dice it after removing the skin and seeds. | 
| 2. | Lightly salt the minced garlic and sauté in the rendered sausage fat, adding olive oil if needed. Once the garlic turns golden, add the diced roasted jalapeno, tomatoes, and a ladle of clam broth. Season with salt, sugar, red pepper flakes, oregano, and pepper. Cook until the broth reduces by a third. Add the cooked sausage and clams, toss gently to combine, and avoid overcooking the clams. | 
| 3. | Toss the cooked pasta with olive oil, parmesan cheese, and seasoned pepper. Top with the clam and sausage sauce. Garnish with parsley and reserved clam shells for presentation. Finish with a squeeze of lemon. | 
| 4. | Serve the Linguine with Clams alongside crusty bread and a fresh salad to complement the flavors. | 
Published on Jul 31, 2024 by Luminița