Ingredient List:
2 small cans (about 6 ounces), chopped clams, with their juice
2 dozen, fresh clams, in shells (optional)
2 large garlic cloves
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tbsp of dried tarragon
1 tsp of pepper
8 ounces of no-salt or half-salted butter
1 cup of dry sherry
1 teaspoon of salt
2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
2 pounds of linguine or spaghetti
2 tablespoons flour
Some grated parmesan cheese for serving, as you desire
Enough butter to make this; a few tablespoons...
Preparations:
Finely chop the garlic
Finely chop the parsley
Cooking instructions:
1) First, cook the clams in 2 1/2 cups of boiling water in a closed pot; make sure you keep the water from boiling the clams for later, once the clams are ready...
2) Saute the chopped garlic and parsley with 2 ounces of butter and 2 tablespoons of extra
virgin olive oil (to help prevent the butter from burning).
When the garlic is cooked, but not burnt, add 2 more tablespoons butter, the tarragon spice, the
juice of the clams cans, the dry sherry and the water from boiling the clams in step 1.
Now with this too fluid sauce we will thicken things up by adding the flour that we add, at this point; add more if required...
3) Cook the sauce a bit, allowing the sherry and clam juice to evaporate a bit,
thus allowing all flavors to concentrate.
At this point reduce heat to medium-low, gently mix in canned clams, pepper and salt.
Cook just enough to heat clams thoroughly (no more than 5 minutes), as they will be
hard if cooked too long.
Use the clams you have cooked previously and use them to garnish each plate. Do not forget to discard all clams that
didn't open after being cooked.
Follow package instructions to cook the linguine, with a bit of salt and a
teaspoon olive oil.
When linguine is al dente, drain and pour into large pasta mixing bowl.
Mix in clam preparation.
When preparing each plate, put a few fresh clams on top of the pasta... mmmm
picture perfect linguine vongole!
Serves 4 to 6... do not forget an excellent white wine to accompany your spaghetti vongole!