Name: Restaurant-Style Pasta and Clams with Marinara
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 pound protein pasta; 2 tablespoon olive oil; 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced; 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste; 2 (6.5-oz) cans chopped clams, drained, juice reserved; 3/4 cup clam juice; 1 cup good-quality marinara sauce; 1 tablespoon unsalted butter; 2 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped; Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste; Lemon juice, to taste, optional

Restaurant-Style Pasta and Clams with Marinara

This restaurant-style clam pasta is tossed in a light marinara sauce, and is silky, savory, and balanced, with just enough tomato to let the clams shine through.

25 min total 10 min prep 15 min cook 4 437 cal

Instructions

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1 Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil. Stir in salt and pasta and return to a boil. Cook pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until just shy of firm to the bite ('al dente'), about 6 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta water; drain pasta and keep warm.
2 Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook gently until fragrant, about 45 seconds.
3 Add the clam juice. Let it simmer until reduced slightly, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in marinara; simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.
4 Stir in clams and heat gently for 1 to 2 minutes. Add pasta directly to clam sauce. Toss continuously.
5 Add splashes of reserved pasta water while tossing until the sauce becomes glossy and lightly coats the noodles.
6 Turn off heat. Add butter and parsley. Toss until butter is melted. Taste; adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and lemon juice if needed.