Spaghetti alle vongole

Name: Spaghetti alle vongole
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 600 g clams, washed; 4 tbsp. olive oil; 3 garlic cloves, crushed; 15 g flat leaf parsley, stems removed and leaves finely chopped; 200 g spaghetti; 100 mL white wine; 100 g cherry tomatoes; 1/2 tsp. chilli flakes

By Chloe MorganPublished: 19 December 2023

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Daniel Harding

Trying to choose your favourite Italian spaghetti dish can be near impossible, but vongole is easily in our top five. If you're wondering what Spaghetti Vongole is and how to make it, let us fill you in.

Spaghetti alle Vongole originates from Naples and involves cooking clams in garlic, parsley, white wine and cherry tomatoes. Spaghetti is then added to drink up all those flavours and dress the pasta with garlicky, herby oil. It looks and sounds fancy, but it really isn't!

It the perfect midweek dinner that's whipped up in under 20 minutes or even a delicious dinner party dish.

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Yields:: 2
Prep Time:: 5 mins
Cook Time:: 20 mins
Total Time:: 25 mins

Ingredients

600 g
clams, washed
4 tbsp.
olive oil
3
garlic cloves, crushed
15 g
flat leaf parsley, stems removed and leaves finely chopped
200 g
spaghetti
100 ml
white wine
100 g
cherry tomatoes
1/2 tsp.
chilli flakes

Directions

1. Step 1In a large saucepan over medium heat, add 2 tbsp olive oil, garlic and stems from the parsley. Stir and cook for 1 minute or until your kitchen smells fragrant and the garlic is sizzling.
2. Step 2Add the clams, white wine, stir well and cover with a lid and cook for 4-5 minutes or until the clams are fully open and cooked.
3. Step 3Place a colander over a large bowl and pour the contents of the pan into the colander. It's important to keep the liquid as we will use this later.
4. Step 4When the clam shells are cool enough to touch, remove the meat from the shells, ensuring the keep around 10 to use as decoration for the top. Set aside until needed.
5. Step 5Next, cook your spaghetti per the packet instruction in well salted water.
6. Step 6With five minutes on the pasta remaining, place the clam pan back over medium heat and add the remaining olive oil. Add the garlic, chilli, parsley leaves and cherry tomatoes. Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes or until the tomatoes are starting to cook.
7. Step 7Add 4tbsp of the reserved clam liquid along with the clams. Stir and cook for a minute, or until the clams have reheated. Once the spaghetti is cooked, use tongs to drag over to the clam pan. Stir until nicely coated and serve.