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Linguine and Clams (Spaghetti alle Vongole)

Linguine and clams is a super quick and easy seafood dish you can make anytime you have good quality, fresh clams on hand. The original dish from Italy, spaghetti alle vongole, uses an alternative long pasta, so use whichever one you prefer.

linguine and clams

Seafood scares some people, but truly, there’s nothing to be afraid of.

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The most important things about cooking seafood is that it is good quality and not overcooked, like this linguine and clams dish. If you can handle these key points, you’re golden. Just be sure to use a reputable seafood company, you will have the first condition covered.

cooking clams

My shellfish were so fresh, that when I cooked them, every single clam and mussel opened: not one discard in the cioppino and pasta dishes I used them in. If your shrimp and scallops are succulent, your seafood pasta will turn out better than ever!

shrimp and scallops in pasta

Linguine with clams is such a fabulous recipe because once your clams are soaked and clean, it takes about 15 minutes of cooking time. 

linguine and clams

In fact, this is one of those dishes when the sauce is ready before the pasta has finished cooking, just like my quick, authentic Italian tomato sauce.

forkful of pasta and a clam

Check out my quick and easy lobster pasta recipe, too!

lobster pasta with fettuccine

Do I Need Fresh Clams for Linguine with Clams?

You could make this with canned clams, too.  However you choose to make it, just remember that the key is to use the best quality ingredients, especially the clams and pasta. This is an example of good quality pasta, the Di Martino brand. Look for pasta which is made from 100% durum wheat semolina and nothing else (no added vitamins, as that means it’s been unduly processed.)

Di Martino pasta

What Type of Clams are Best for Linguine and Clams?

Littleneck clams are the smallest available in the US, so these are the best to use for this pasta recipe.

Have you seen my cioppino recipe?

cioppino overhead

Spaghetti con Vongole

As I mentioned earlier, in Italy, the choice of pasta for this dish is spaghetti (my choice, too, since I’m not a huge linguine lover). So if you want to make this dish a bit more authentic, choose spaghetti, and instead of chopping up the garlic cloves, leave them whole and then discard them after sautéing in the oil.  Contrary to popular belief, garlic is much more popular in American Italian food than authentic Italian cuisine.

linguine and clams

The other difference in Italy is that the clams are much smaller, however, there’s nothing we can do about that. You’ll just have to go to Italy when we’re able to travel again to taste the original! I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait!

Note: Italians have a “thing” about adding cheese to seafood, so if you don’t want to stray from tradition, keep the cheese in the fridge. The reason is that the cuisines are seen as separate; mountain and inland food from animals (cheese) and seafood from the sea and therefore, coastal regions. Also, cheeses often have a very strong flavor, which can overpower delicate seafood. Now you know!

pan of linguine and clams

Aren’t you hungry?

linguine and clams

Linguine with Clams (Spaghetti alle Vongole)

A simple Italian recipe – Christina Conte                              serves 5

FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW

Soak the clams in advance of making the recipe. I sprinkle a little Kosher salt into the water and leave for an hour or two. Afterwards scrub them well, and rinse. If any are open and don’t close when tapped against a hard surface, discard.

soaking clams

Before starting the clams, pop the pasta into a pot of salted water at a rolling boil. Cook according to the time on the package to “al dente”, when the inside of the pasta is still a little hard.

Fresh garlic is a must (do not use jarred, prechopped garlic), as well as good quality olive oil, like my friend Amy Riolo’s award-winning extra virgin olive oil from Abruzzo, Italy (enter code WELCOME10 for a 10% discount). Chop the garlic and parsley and add a little cayenne pepper, too, if you like.

garlic, parsley, hot pepper and olive oil on a board

In a pan over medium high heat, add the garlic, then the parsley and hot pepper, if using.

chopped garlic, hot pepper and parsley frying

Before the garlic starts to brown, add the wine.

adding wine to pan for clam sauce

Next, add the clams, and cover.

putting lid on clams in pan

Cook just as long as needed for them to open: usually about 5 minutes, but no more than 8 or 9 minutes (the larger the clams, the longer the cook time). Discard any that do not open at all.

cooking clams

When ready, turn off the heat.

cooking clams

cooking clams

Immediately add the linguine or spaghetti, straight from the pot using a pasta fork (do not drain the pasta unless you reserve a cup of the cooking water).

adding linguine to clams

Stir and toss to mix in the pasta with the clam sauce, adding some of the pasta water if needed (if it’s too dry, it needs it).

pan of linguine and clams

Serve linguine and clams immediately. Now, see how easy that was?

Buon appetito, and hold the cheese!

forkful of linguine and clams

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linguine and clams

Linguine and Clams (Spaghetti alle Vongole)

Servings: 5
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
A quick and easy, classic seafood pasta dish using linguine or spaghetti and clams.
5 from 12 votes

Ingredients

  • 1 lb linguine or spaghetti (good quality)
  • 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic chopped
  • tsp cayenne pepper fresh or dried (optional)
  • 1 small bunch Italian parsley chopped
  • 4 oz dry white wine
  • 1 lb littleneck clams (fresh)
  • tsp salt to taste
  • tsp black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • (Soak the clams in advance of making the recipe. I sprinkle a little Kosher salt into the water and leave for an hour or two. Afterwards scrub them well, and rinse. If any are open and don't close when tapped against a hard surface, discard.)
  • Before starting the clams, pop the pasta into a pot of salted water at a rolling boil. Cook according to the time on the package to "al dente", when the inside of the pasta is still a little hard.
  • Fresh garlic is a must (do not use jarred, prechopped garlic), as well as good quality olive oil, like my friend Amy Riolo's award winning extra virgin olive oil from Abruzzo, Italy (enter code WELCOME10 for a 10% discount). Chop the garlic and parsley and add a little cayenne pepper, too, if you like.
  • In a pan over medium high heat, add the garlic, then the parsley and hot pepper, if using.
  • Before the garlic starts to brown, add the wine. Next, add the clams, and cover.
  • Cook just as long as needed for them to open: usually about 5 minutes, but no more than 8 or 9 minutes (the larger the clams, the longer the cook time). Discard any that do not open at all. When ready, turn off the heat.
  • Immediately add the linguine or spaghetti, straight from the pot using a pasta fork (do not drain the pasta unless you reserve a cup of the cooking water).
  • Stir and toss to mix in the pasta with the clam sauce, adding some of the pasta water if needed (if it's too dry, it needs it). Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Italians have a "thing" about adding cheese to seafood, so if you don't want to stray from tradition, keep the cheese in the fridge. The reason is that the cuisines are seen as separate; mountain and inland food from animals (cheese) and seafood from the sea and therefore, coastal regions. Also, cheeses often have a very strong flavor, which can overpower delicate seafood. Adding cheese to seafood is in fact almost seen as a cardinal sin, haha! Now you know!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 448kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 79mg | Potassium: 297mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1022IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 2mg

Christina’s Cucina is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

5 from 12 votes (12 ratings without comment)

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18 Comments

  1. Many years ago I received a recipe for this from an Italian Nurse I worked with. She called it Linguine Con von Golé. I’ve loved it and used it for these 40 years. I’m always looking at new recipes for ideas. I am allergic to languistinos, shrimp and lobster, but I would love it if you could share some recipes for finned fish, clams , and particularly mussels. I just need them to be adjustable with the amount of heat. Generally I can manage that. But all the recipes for Mussels I’ve seen so far, have been incendiary. Is there a combination of fish and seafood that avoids my allergies for Cioppino? I really love the fruits of the oceans but many are really expensive right now as the weather has kept our fleets in port. I need to increase fish to at least 2 times a week and maximize plant foods, I’m using a Mediterranean Diet Format. I’ve never met a Mediterranean cuisine I haven’t liked, plus it incorporates elements of DASH very well. Any recipes you publish will be happily accepted. BTW the next time you upgrade you site, could you possibly enlarge the print and deepen the font tone. It’s getting very hard to read, and I can’t be the only one suffering.

    1. Hi Mary Ann, I’m a bit confused by your questions. You can omit the types of seafood you are allergic to and use any cioppino recipe (including mine). You can search my site for seafood recipes as I have quite a few fish recipes. Regarding the font size and tone, I’ve already made it larger, so I can’t do it again, but do you know you can increase the size of how you view your page? It will make it much easier for you, I’m sure.

  2. Antoine’s absolute favourite – thanks for posting this, Christina – I have to make this for him and hunt out fresh clams at the market! Wonderful!

  3. This is my dad’s absolute favorite meal in the world, and favorite thing to order when it’s on a good menu. I must make it for him! Your version sounds and looks so tasty. I will look into ordering the clams. :-) ~Valentina

  4. This is one of my absolute favorite pasta dishes, it’s so simple and when it’s done right, heaven! I can still taste the best one of had (so far) from a tiny restaurant in Rome that my hubby and I stumbled upon when we were wandering aimlessly! Never took down the name, one of my biggest travel regrets, and could never find it again! I am hoping to make this soon!

      1. Add a little powdered mustard to the salted water. Helps purge the clams. Rinse before adding to the pot