Pasta e Ceci con Vongole: A Symphony of Flavors from the Italian Coast
Pasta e Ceci con Vongole, a classic Italian dish, captivates taste buds with its harmonious blend of flavors. Originating from the coastal regions of Italy, this culinary delight combines the essence of the sea and the heartiness of traditional Italian cuisine. With tender chickpeas, succulent clams, and a flavorful tomato-based sauce, this dish is a symphony of textures and tastes that will transport you to the vibrant streets of Italy. From the simple yet satisfying Pasta e Ceci to the more elaborate Vongole variation, this article presents a collection of recipes that celebrate the versatility of this classic dish. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a home cook looking to explore the culinary treasures of Italy, these recipes will guide you in creating a perfect Pasta e Ceci con Vongole that will impress your family and friends. So, prepare to embark on a culinary journey as we delve into the secrets of this beloved Italian dish.
PASTA E CECI
This simple, hearty dish is pure Italian comfort food. Made with double carbs (chickpeas -- the "ceci" -- and ditalini!), it's somewhere between a soup and a pasta, bringing the best qualities of both to one bowl. While it's optional, the Parmesan rind adds a depth of flavor here as well as to other soups and stews, especially vegetarian ones. Whenever you finish a wedge of Parmesan, just wrap the leftover rind well in plastic and keep it in the fridge. The lemon zest and juice add a bright note to the broth that's thickened by mashing some of the chickpeas. If you don't have a potato masher, you can mash the chickpeas against the sides of the pot with a wooden spoon.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 50m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat the olive oil in a medium Dutch oven over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the carrots, celery and leeks; cook, stirring occasionally, until the leeks are wilted, about 5 minutes. Clear a space in the center of the pot and add the tomato paste, rosemary, garlic and red pepper flakes. Let toast for a minute, then stir into the vegetables. Add the chickpeas, lemon zest, bay leaves, Parmesan rind, if using, 6 cups water and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the vegetables are tender, 18 to 20 minutes. Use a potato masher to mash some of the chickpeas until the broth appears creamy and slightly thick, leaving plenty of chickpeas whole, 6 or 7 mashes around the pot should do the trick. Add the ditalini and 1 cup water. Return to a simmer and cook until the ditalini is very al dente, about 7 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the lemon juice and let sit until the broth is thickened and the pasta finishes cooking, about 5 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaves, cheese rind and lemon zest before serving. Season the pasta e ceci with salt, if needed. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan.
PASTA ALLE VONGOLE
Provided by Valerie Bertinelli
Categories main-dish
Time 25m
Yield 1 large or 2 small servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a large saute pan with a tight-fitting lid over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and pepper flakes and saute until fragrant. Don't let the garlic brown. Add the white wine and clams, increase the heat to high and cover the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until all of the clams have opened, about 8 minutes. As the clams open, transfer them to a large bowl. When all of the clams are removed, reduce the heat to medium low, add the oregano and swirl in the butter. Season with salt and pepper.
- Meanwhile, bring a pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook the linguine according to the package direction. Using tongs, transfer the linguine to the saute pan with the clam juice and toss to coat. Turn off the heat and add the clams and any juices that have collected in the bowl. Using tongs, turn the linguine to coat it with the sauce. Top with parsley. Serve immediately.
SPAGHETTI VONGOLE
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a generous amount of salt (at least 2 tablespoons) and the pasta and stir to separate. Cook until 3 minutes short of al dente (according to package directions), then drain.
- Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large straight-sided skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant and sizzling, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the pepper flakes and crushed tomatoes, season with salt and cook until the tomatoes are slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add the wine and bring to a boil for 1 minute. Add the clams and cover for 2 to 3 minutes. Uncover and cook, stirring, until the clams open. Discard unopened clams.
- Add the pasta to the skillet along with the parsley, cheese and butter. Cook, tossing and stirring and drizzling with olive oil, until the pasta is cooked through and the sauce is silky and thickened. Serve drizzled with oil and sprinkled with cheese and parsley.
LINGUINE CON VONGOLE
Linguine con Vongole is one of those pasta dishes that you can find basically anywhere in coastal Italy. Mysteriously, in the States, it is often presented cloaked in a tomato-based sauce, not how you'd find it in Italy (though they might throw in a handful of fresh chopped tomatoes at the end). The pasta and clams come generously brothy, and I love to fai la scarpetta (sop up the sauce with a piece of bread).
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 30m
Yield 4 to 5 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Fill a large pot with water and add enough salt so the water tastes like seawater, and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the directions on the package until 2 minutes shy of al dente.
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large saute pan until shimmering. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until golden, about 1 minute.
- Add the cockles, red pepper flakes and white wine and shake to combine. Cover and cook until the cockles open, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the lid and discard any cockles that haven't opened (those are dead).
- Drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the cockles. Cook, tossing to combine, until the pasta is al dente and absorbs some of the clam juices.
- Add the butter and parsley and shake the pan to combine.
- Season to taste with salt and black pepper and serve immediately with slices of bread on the side to sop up the juices in the bowl.
SPAGHETTI VONGOLE
Provided by Molly O'Neill
Categories dinner, pastas, main course
Time 20m
Yield Four servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a large pot over medium heat cook the garlic cloves in olive oil until golden, about 1 minute. Add the chili-pepper flakes, clams and wine. Cover the pot and steam until the clams open, about 5 to 7 minutes. Strain, reserve the broth and set the clams aside to cool.
- Boil the spaghetti in well-salted water until tender. While it is cooking, take the clams from the shells. Discard the shells. Put the reserved clam broth in a large saucepan over medium heat. When it is boiling, add the lemon juice, the parsley and the reserved clams. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the spaghetti, toss and serve.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 873, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 136 grams, Fat 10 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 36 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 938 milligrams, Sugar 6 grams, TransFat 0 grams
PASTA E CECI (ITALIAN PASTA AND CHICKPEA STEW)
There is an incredible number of recipes for this classic Roman dish, and everyone has an opinion on how it should be prepared. This version is more stew than soup, but it can be loosened up with a bit more water if you prefer. It begins with sautéing onion, tomatoes, garlic and rosemary in olive oil, then tossing in the chickpeas, and smashing a few to give the stew a creamy texture. Water is added, then uncooked pasta, which cooks as the stew simmers (and results in one less dish for you wash). Escarole is folded in right before serving. This flexible stew can go in a number of directions, so tweak it as you see fit, but don't forget to finish each bowl with grated pecorino and a drizzle of olive oil. Ciao.
Provided by Colu Henry
Categories dinner, weekday, soups and stews, appetizer, main course
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a large stock pot or Dutch oven over medium. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not taking on any color, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, rosemary and red-pepper flakes, and cook 1 minute more. Season well with salt and pepper.
- Stir in the tomatoes and the chickpeas, breaking up the tomatoes with the back of a spoon or spatula and smashing about 1/2 cup of the beans.
- Add 3 cups water and bring to a boil over high. Add the pasta and simmer, stirring often to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom of the pan, until the pasta is al dente, about 10 minutes. The water will mostly be absorbed by the pasta, but if you prefer it brothier, you can add 1/2 to 1 cup water and simmer until warmed through, 1 minute more. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Add the escarole and stir until wilted. Taste and adjust seasonings accordingly. Ladle into bowls and top with grated cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.
SPAGHETTI ALLE VONGOLE
Provided by Bon Appétit Test Kitchen
Categories Pasta Valentine's Day Father's Day New Year's Eve Lunch Seafood Clam Mussel Summer Anniversary Christmas Eve Potluck Bon Appétit Sugar Conscious Kidney Friendly Pescatarian Dairy Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free
Yield serves 2
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Bring 3 quarts water to a boil in a 5 quart pot. Season lightly with salt; add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until about 2 minutes before tender. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking water.
- Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, swirling pan often, until just golden. Add red pepper flakes and continue cooking 15 more seconds. Add wine, then clams; increase heat to high. Cover skillet and cook until clams open and release their juices, 3-6 minutes, depending on size of clams. As clams open, use tongs to transfer them to a bowl.
- Add 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water to skillet; bring to a boil. Add pasta to pan. Cook over high heat, tossing constantly, until pasta is al dente and has soaked up some of the sauce from the pan. Add clams and any juices from bowl to pan, along with parsley, and toss to combine. (Add more pasta water if sauce seems dry.) Transfer pasta to warm bowls and drizzle with remaining oil.
Tips:
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients: This will make a big difference in the flavor of your dish. Look for plump, juicy vongole (clams) and fresh, firm vegetables.
- Soak the vongole (clams) in cold water before cooking: This will help to remove any sand or grit from the clams.
- Cook the vongole (clams) until they open: This usually takes about 5-7 minutes. If any of the clams do not open, discard them.
- Use a good quality olive oil: This will add a rich flavor to your dish.
- Add the pasta to the pot with the vongole (clams) and cooking liquid: This will help the pasta to absorb the delicious flavors of the clams.
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions: Be sure to stir the pasta occasionally to prevent it from sticking together.
- Serve the pasta e ceci con vongole immediately: This dish is best enjoyed hot and fresh.
Conclusion:
Pasta e ceci con vongole is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal. It is packed with flavor and is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you are looking for a new and exciting pasta dish to try, give pasta e ceci con vongole a try. You won't be disappointed!
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