Linguini With Quahogs Recipes

LINGUINE WITH CLAMS

Steps:

• In large pot over high heat, bring 4 quarts of water and 2 tablespoons of kosher salt to a boil. Add the linguine and cook according to the package directions until just shy of al dente (the pasta should still be firm to the bite since it will cook another minute or two in the sauce).
• Meanwhile, in a very large sauté pan over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil until hot but not smoking. Add the shallots and garlic and sauté until just golden, about 30 seconds. Add the wine, red pepper flakes, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, clams, and ¼ cup of the parsley; bring to a simmer and cook, covered, until the clams open, 6 to 8 minutes. Discard any unopened clams.
• Reserving ½ cup of the cooking water, drain the linguine in a colander (do not rinse). Add the pasta to the sauté pan with the clams. (If you don't have room for everything in one pan, transfer the clams to a plate and cover to keep warm. When ready to serve, add them back to the pasta on a serving platter). Increase the heat to medium and cook the linguini with the clams, tossing occasionally, until the pasta absorbs most of the sauce and is just tender, 1 to 2 minutes. If necessary, add some of reserved cooking water to keep moist. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of parsley; toss to coat. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt, lemon zest and/or lemon juice, if necessary. Transfer to a serving dish or bowls and serve.
• Note: When cooking with wine, select a bottle that is inexpensive (under $10) but still good enough to drink. Avoid "cooking wines," which are salty and include additives.

SPICY STUFFIES (STUFFED QUAHOGS)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a medium pot, bring 4 cups water to a boil over high heat. Place the quahogs in the pot and let them steam until they open, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the quahogs and strain the water from the pot (which is now quahog broth) and reserve it for later use. Then remove the meats from the shells and, when cool, chop into chunky 1/4-inch pieces or use a food processor. (Don't over process, the meats should be chunky.) The shells can be set aside for later use. Make sure to remove any muscles left on the shells and discard any broken shells.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the butter, chourico, onions and pepper relish and cook until the onions become translucent. Add the chopped quahog meat and cook for 3 to 4 minutes longer.
• In a large mixing bowl, add the quahog broth to the croutons and fold together. When the croutons have absorbed the broth, add the hot ingredients to the bowl. Incorporate all of the ingredients, and adding enough plain breadcrumbs until the mixture is stiff. Divide the mixture into 10 even balls, about 5 ounces each or 3 inches in diameter, and place firmly into the shells. Place the shells on a sheet pan into the oven until the outside of the stuffie is toasted brown, 5 to 10 minutes. The stuffies are now ready to be served.

LINGUINE WITH RED CLAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs; drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, anchovies, red pepper flakes, oregano and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is lightly golden, about 1 minute. Add the wine and cook until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add the whole clams; cover and cook until they just begin to open, about 3 minutes. Add the chopped clams and parsley; continue cooking, covered, until the whole clams are fully opened, about 3 more minutes (discard any that do not open). Add the pasta and the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil; toss to combine. Season with salt.

TIM O'TOOLE'S FAMOUS STUFFED QUAHOGS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bring water to a boil over high heat. Add sausage links; reduce heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove links from broth; reserve the broth. Remove casings from the sausage.
• Bring the broth back to a simmer and add the quahogs; cook until they open, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the quahogs; reserve the broth. Remove the cooked quahogs from the shells. Separate the shell halves. If necessary wash the shells.
• Place the sausage and quahog meat into the bowl of a food processor; process until chopped, about 12 seconds, depending on your processor. Scrape mixture into a bowl. Add chopped onion to the processor; chop about 5 seconds. Stir in to the meat mixture.
• Make the full container of stuffing according to package directions, using the margarine, and substituting the sausage/clam broth for water. There may be more broth than you need.
• Mix together the stuffing and sausage/clam/onion mixture. Spoon filling into empty clam shell halves and top each with a small pat of butter (about a third of a teaspoon).
• Place the shells on a baking pan; bake in the preheated oven until toasty brown on top, 15 to 20 minutes.

CREAMY LINGUINI FOR TWO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for about 7 to 8 minutes or until al dente; drain. Remove from pot, cover and set aside.
• Meanwhile, in a small skillet cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Break up into small pieces and set aside.
• In the pasta pot, melt butter over medium-low heat and add cream; heat thoroughly, but do not allow to boil. Combine cooked pasta with butter/cream mixture. Add Parmesan cheese and bacon; toss well. Allow sauce to thicken for a few minutes; add ground white pepper and nutmeg. Serve immediately.

LINGUINI WITH QUAHOGS

Steps:

• In large sauté pan over moderately high heat, heat olive oil until hot but not smoking. Add garlic and sauté until just golden, about 30 seconds. Add red pepper flakes (and oregano if using) and sauté 1 minute. Add wine and quahog juice and simmer until is reduced by 2/3. 2 minutes before linguini is done cooking, add quahogs and lemon zest (and parsley if using). Toss with linguini and serve immediately.