Spaghetti and Clams are traditional Italian comfort food - it is the kind of meal I grew up on. Tossed together with fresh tomato sauce and some grated cheese, this no-fuss classic is the definition of simple elegance.
This is a simple, rustic and enjoyable spaghetti dish. There are so many ways to prepare spaghetti with clam sauce and I think I will try all of them for all of you!
I thoroughly enjoyed this meal and yes, as so many meals do it brought back memories of my youth. My father loved fishing and clamming and I loved tagging along as his “fishing buddy”. He found such pleasure in simply casting a line, enjoying a sandwich and a cup of coffee. There is something about the salt air combined with a cup of coffee from a thermos and a simple sandwich. You really find the simple joy of life.
We would bring our catch home; that is if we caught anything…and my mom would create a memorable, yet simple dish that today would be considered “gourmet” fare.
My mother’s cooking simply was the very best. She never wrote anything down and rarely ever used a recipe, so I have to remember a meal by the taste and try to replicate the dish by the flavors I remember in my mind. I don’t quite have this one down as I remember but I will try again to bring the flavors I remember to life.
Spaghetti and Clams with Fresh Tomato Sauce
- Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 lb. of fresh clams in their water
- 5 plum tomatoes - diced
- 1/2 cup of fresh Italian parsley - chopped
- 2 stalks of celery - chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic - chopped
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
- 3 tbs. olive oil
- Lemon wedges
- Parmesan or Romano cheese for grating
- 1 lb. of your favorite spaghetti
Instructions
- Heat a large cast iron frying pan with the olive oil; add the diced tomatoes, garlic, celery and parsley.
- Simmer on low until the garlic is fragrant; then with a potato masher, gently mash the tomatoes; add the seasonings and the clams with their water; gently simmer on low while preparing the spaghetti.
- Drain the spaghetti and add the to the clam sauce; add a drizzle of olive oil, extra red pepper flakes, dried oregano, fresh parsley, a squeeze of lemon juice and grated cheese.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
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Enjoy with Love,
Catherine
xo
Comedy Plus says
I love pasta and clams. What a great combination. I'm going to try this one too.
Love your plans for the weekender. I'll be here.
Have a fabulous day Catherine. Big hugs. ♥♥♥
Ginny Hartzler says
This looks wonderful! Your special times with your dad sound so wonderful. I think kids going fishing with adults teaches so many things!! Perseverance and patience, silence, and a chance for long and meaningful talks.
peter @feedyoursoultoo says
Gorgeous. Love this.
Dottie Sauchelli-Balin says
Good afternoon Catherine,
This is what I am having this evening, but only the white clam sauce. I also like the red with the tomato. Your recipe sounds delizioso! I know what you mean about not writing down the recipes, one of my grandmother's didn't write anything down and it is so hard to get exactly the way they did it or even have the same flavor. That is why I wanted to start this blog so I can gather all the recipes from the family I could find and put it all together for my nieces, nephews, and my son. Love the story about you and your father fishing with hi, and then brought the fish you might have caught to your mom. What a beautiful treasured memory. Amazing and memorable post. Thank you for sharing...Have a blessed and fun weekend...
Dottie 🙂
tanna says
Oh, Catherine. I love the memories of you going with your Dad and your Mom cooking something special with your catch of the day! 😉 This recipe reminds me that one of the first recipes I "conquered" when I moved out on my own was Linguine with clam sauce... I thought it was the cat's meow! I'm sure yours is much better! Thank you for sharing your memories and reminding me of one of my own. Have a wonderful weekend. blessings ~ tanna
AnnMarie says
My husband and I are looking at this picture saying what special occasion can we make this for ....yum!! We decided that the fact that our mortgage payment just went down is good enough reason for us!!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
Like all of your recipes I see, I love this one! I grew up in an Italian family eating meals like this, and I miss those times. This is lovely!
Louise says
What wonderful memories, Catherine. I remember going clamming with our feet like it was yesterday. My mother use to take us to this little beach by the hospital and we would run in and with our little feet dig for clams. There were so many clams then Catherine. Our hands would get full and we'd run back to the beach with our "treasures" and put them in a pail of salt water from the ocean. Oh those were the days:)
My father use to take us to Sheephead Bay and we would fish off the bridge, I think. It was such a long time ago.
Oh to be able to get fresh clams here in central PA. I do miss the fresh fish we were so use to getting on Long Island. Your Spaghetti and Clam Sauce looks so inviting. I am actuallly partial to clam sauce with tomatoes but my sister always preferred it white, lol...we use to "fight" over which was better:)
Thank you so much for sharing, Catherine and thank you for inviting us to the LTG Weekender. I'm already a subscriber:)
P.S. I'll be pinning this:) Catherine I'm going to be posting an important Pinterest tip on Sunday. If those "Picked For You Pins" have been frustrating you, I may have found a way to avoid them. Tune in...
Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm says
A lovely meal and even lovelier memories. Thanks for sharing
Dan from Platter Talk says
I love this combination of spaghetti and clams. Your post, including the photography is nothing short of masterfully executed. Very nicely done!
sandie says
I have to be honest - never had clams before.
Hootin' Anni says
Looks delicious...but I must admit the salmon recipe/photo below this post has me drooling!!!
Liz says
Love this family recipe! Perfect Lenten meal--I haven't made anything with clams in eons!
Big Daddy Dave says
Catherine, We've never done anything with clams at home although we do like them. This entree looks good and worthy of a try for dinner one night! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
Chiara says
a perfect italian meal,I love clams ! Have a nice weekend my dear, xoxo
Susan says
What a sweet memory of your father. Your mother must have been a great cook! This looks delicious!
Gloria says
This look delicious!! I want thi8s for dinner!!
xo
Choc Chip Uru says
Your tomato sauce sounds like it would be beyond delicious 😀
I can almost smell your spaghetti from here!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Tammy Renea says
This is a beautiful recipe, and I enjoyed reading about your childhood memories of fishing with your father. "He found such pleasure in simply casting a line, enjoying a sandwich and a cup of coffee." Finding pleasure in the simple things is the best thing a person can do for themselves and everyone around them. Very nice post.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
A delightful meal! Sweet memory and great food...life is good.
Kathy says
Your dish of Spaghetti and Clams looks mouthwatering! I have made White Clam Sauce before, but I love the idea of a red Clam Sauce. Beautiful, Catherine!!
Tanya walton says
I have to confess to never having tried clams....not entirely sure I want to either...if someone served them to me I would certainly give them a try but They just don't inspire anything in me to go and purchase some!!
I'm sure the dish is wonderful though.
Anne says
Saving this for summer, when both ripe tomatoes and local seafood will be at the farmer's market! Because sometimes it's all about a simple combination of the best ingredients...
marcela says
Sounds like a perfect dish! Very comforting!
Carrie @Frugal Foodie Mama says
This looks and sounds amazing! 🙂 I just love simple, fresh recipes like this that hold fond family memories.
Beth says
This sounds delightful. Some of the best recipes come from memories from the past!
Roz @ La Bella Vita Cucina says
So nice to know that you also enjoyed a little fishing with your father too Catherine. Brings back so many childhood memories! My mother is like yours in that no recipes were/are ever used! Such a gift! Your pasta looks like something I could just jump into and devour!
Hugs,
Roz
Gwen @simplyhealthyfamily says
How amazing! I definitely don't cook with clams often enough especially seeing as how in love with them I am. Saving and sharing this to make immediately. oxox
pepermintpaty says
your recipe looks soooo good. Do you thing canned clams with fish stock would work---or don't even think about trying it that way??
Thao @ In Good Flavor says
My family likes spaghetti with red clam sauce. We have to try this light version. It sounds delicious!
Amy @ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes says
Looks like a yummy alternative to white clam sauce! Pinning! Thanks for linking up to Best of the Weekend, Catherine!
April J Harris says
I love creating recipe from family food memories! Your Spaghetti with Clams and Fresh Tomato Sauce sounds wonderful, Catherine!
Laura@ Baking in Pyjamas says
What a delicious looking dish and full of such fresh flavours. Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!!
All that's Jas says
They say flavors and scent bring out memories, and yours are worth sharing. Thanks for linking up at Thursday Favorite Things, please visit us again next week!
JC says
No fresh clams here but I was looking for new ideas for the tins of smoked clams I buy that also used up some of my tomatoes and I think this is just the ticket. Off to the kitchen I go!