Best 14 Spicy Spaghetti With Clams And Red Bell Pepper Recipes

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Tantalize your taste buds with a culinary journey to the Mediterranean coast with our Spicy Spaghetti with Clams and Red Bell Pepper. Immerse yourself in the vibrant flavors of this classic Italian dish, where the briny sweetness of clams harmonizes with the spicy kick of red chili peppers and the refreshing crunch of red bell peppers.

This delightful seafood pasta is a symphony of flavors and textures, featuring a savory and aromatic sauce that lovingly coats each strand of perfectly cooked spaghetti. As you savor each bite, the plump and tender clams burst with their briny essence, while the red chili peppers add a subtle heat that awakens your senses. The vibrant red bell peppers bring a sweet and crisp contrast, adding a delightful crunch to every mouthful.

Here are our top 14 tried and tested recipes!

SPICY CLAMS WITH SPAGHETTI



Spicy Clams with Spaghetti image

Turn up the heat on spaghetti alle vongole with a generous dose of red-pepper flakes. Serve it on Valentine's Day, or better yet, make it a date -- and make it together.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Seafood Recipes

Time 25m

Number Of Ingredients 9

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
8 ounces spaghetti
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes, plus more for serving
1/4 cup dry white wine
18 littleneck clams (about 1 1/2 pounds), scrubbed
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped, plus 1 tablespoon thinly sliced stems

Steps:

  • Bring a medium pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water; drain.
  • Meanwhile, heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add garlic and red-pepper flakes and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add wine and bring to a simmer. Increase heat to medium-high and add clams. Cover and cook just until clams open, 4 to 5 minutes. Discard unopened clams.
  • Stir in butter and parsley leaves and stems. Add pasta and toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water 1 tablespoon at a time, until sauce is loose and creamy. Season with salt and pepper.

SPAGHETTI WITH CLAMS



Spaghetti with Clams image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Categories     main-dish

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 pound dried spaghetti
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 shallots, thinly sliced
5 to 7 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 1/2 pounds Manila clams, scrubbed clean
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced into small cubes
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 lemon, zested, for garnish

Steps:

  • In a large pot, bring to a boil 6 quarts of salted water. Add pasta, stirring constantly in the beginning to prevent it from sticking together. Cook until al dente, about 8 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large saute pan. When almost smoking, add shallots and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the clams and wine. Cover and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes or until most clams have opened.
  • Add 2 tablespoons chopped parsley. Whisk in butter to thicken sauce slightly.
  • Drain pasta in a colander. Do not rinse pasta with water - this will remove the pasta's natural starches. Place pasta into the clam saute pan and mix thoroughly. Check seasoning.
  • Pour pasta into large serving bowl. Zest lemon over the dish, being carefull not to zest the white part of the lemon, which is bitter. Garnish with remaining parsley. Serve immediately.

CLAMS AND SPAGHETTI WITH SPICY TOMATO BROTH



Clams and Spaghetti With Spicy Tomato Broth image

Many Italian recipes call for simmering fish and shellfish in "acqua pazza," or crazy water. It's a quick way to make a small amount of tasty broth, and obviously more flavorful than cooking fish in plain water would be. Every cook makes it differently, but most recipes involve olive oil, tomato and a pinch of crushed red pepper. Garlic, parsley, capers, lemon and even smashed anchovy could also be part of the mixture. The end result is the perfect year-round medium for cooking fish fillets or shrimp or to serve as the base for a brothy bowlful of clams and spaghetti. It takes only a few minutes, and the cooking liquid, conveniently, is also the sauce. Basil leaves and fresh cherry tomatoes, halved and drizzled with olive oil and salt, give the dish a summery feel.

Provided by David Tanis

Categories     dinner, lunch, pastas, seafood, main course

Time 40m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

Extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, diced
1/2 cup chopped green garlic shoots or 2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 bay leaf
2 or 3 medium hot fresh red peppers, such as Dutch or Fresno, cut into 1/4-inch slices, or 1/2 teaspoon dried red-pepper flakes
1 large thyme sprig
Salt and pepper
2 cups crushed tomatoes (canned is fine)
1 cup dry white wine
4 or 5 pounds small clams, such as manila or cherrystones
1 pound spaghetti
2 cups red and yellow cherry tomatoes, halved
1 tablespoon thinly sliced chives
2 tablespoons roughly chopped parsley
Handful of basil leaves

Steps:

  • Set a large pot of water on a back burner over medium-high heat, covered, so it is ready and boiling when it's time to cook the pasta.
  • Put a wide Dutch oven or deep heavy-bottomed skillet with a lid over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil. When the oil is hot, add onion, and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes, until softened and lightly colored.
  • Stir in chopped green garlic, bay leaf, hot pepper and thyme sprig. Stir to coat and let sizzle. Season mixture generously with salt and pepper. Add tomatoes and wine, and bring mixture to a brisk simmer, stirring. Simmer 5 minutes, then taste and adjust seasoning. Thin with water if necessary: You don't want it to be too thick.
  • Salt the pasta water and cook the spaghetti at a rapid boil until al dente - usually a minute or 2 less than instructions on package.
  • Add clams to Dutch oven or skillet, turn heat to high and put on the lid. Stir clams with a large spoon a couple of times (to help heat disperse evenly) and replace lid. They should take 5 to 6 minutes to open. Once all clams are open, turn off heat and leave to rest, covered, for a few minutes.
  • Drain pasta and, using tongs, divide among 4 to 6 bowls. Using a large slotted spoon or tongs, top pasta with an equal amount of clams. Ladle all remaining broth in the pot over each serving.
  • Season halved cherry tomatoes with salt and a little olive oil. Spoon seasoned cherry tomatoes over top of the bowls.
  • Sprinkle with chives, parsley and basil leaves. Serve.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 31, UnsaturatedFat 0 grams, Carbohydrate 3 grams, Fat 1 gram, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 88 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 0 grams

CLAM PASTA WITH BASIL AND HOT PEPPER



Clam Pasta With Basil and Hot Pepper image

The beauty of this dish is that the clams can be steamed in the time it takes to cook the pasta, so the whole affair can be put together quite rapidly. High heat and a covered pot will have the shells open in minutes.

Provided by David Tanis

Categories     dinner, easy, quick, weekday, pastas, main course

Time 30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 cup basil leaves
1 cup Italian parsley leaves
3 garlic cloves, smashed to a paste
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper
1 pound bucatini, spaghetti or linguine
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed fennel seed, optional
1/2 teaspoon peperoncino (hot red-pepper flakes)
4 pounds small clams, such as little neck or Manila, rinsed of sand
1/2 cup dry white wine
Basil leaves, for garnish
Lemon wedges

Steps:

  • Make the purée: Grind basil and parsley together in a food processor. (Alternatively, hand chop herbs or pound them in a mortar.) Add garlic paste and 1/4 cup olive oil and pulse to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a rapid boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions, taking care to keep pasta quite al dente. It's best to use a timer, and drain pasta as soon as it's done.
  • While pasta is cooking, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy-bottomed wide pot with a lid over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic, fennel seed if using and pepperoncino, and let sizzle without browning, about 1 minute. Add clams, stirring to coat with a wooden spoon. Raise heat to high, add wine and put on the lid. Cook, covered, until all clams have opened, 5 to 7 minutes. Turn off heat. (Discard any clams that fail to open.)
  • Add cooked pasta and basil purée to pot and toss gently to combine. Transfer to a serving bowl. Garnish with basil leaves and lemon wedges.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 707, UnsaturatedFat 15 grams, Carbohydrate 70 grams, Fat 20 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 55 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 1830 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams

CHEF JOHN'S SPAGHETTI WITH RED CLAM SAUCE



Chef John's Spaghetti with Red Clam Sauce image

This is one of my 'go to' recipes and it takes only about 15 minutes from start to finish. The only prep work really is mashing the garlic. The sauce is great on any pasta, but I prefer angel hair or spaghetti.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Seafood     Fish

Time 20m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons capers
1 tablespoon anchovy paste
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 (24 ounce) jar tomato pasta sauce
¼ cup water
1 cup good-quality crisp white wine
2 (6.5 ounce) cans chopped clams, drained with juice reserved
salt and pepper to taste
1 pound dry spaghetti
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Chopped fresh basil leaves or parsley

Steps:

  • Pour olive oil into cold skillet. Add garlic, capers, anchovy paste, and red pepper flakes. Place over medium heat and cook and stir until the oil is infused with the flavors of the mixture, about 5 minutes, taking care not to brown the garlic. Add tomato sauce and rinse jar with 1/4 cup water; add water to skillet. Pour in wine and juice from clams, reserving the clams. Bring to a simmer until slightly reduced and thickened, 7 to 9 minutes.
  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until almost al dente, or about 1 minute less than directed on package. Drain. Return pasta to the pot off heat.
  • Stir clams into the sauce. Pour sauce over pasta. Stir; cover the pot to allow it to finish cooking off heat and to allow the pasta will absorb some of the sauce, about 3 minutes. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Top with chopped fresh basil and/or parsley.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 852 calories, Carbohydrate 116.9 g, Cholesterol 71.5 mg, Fat 16.5 g, Fiber 8.4 g, Protein 44.3 g, SaturatedFat 3.5 g, Sodium 1513.8 mg, Sugar 18.6 g

SPAGHETTI WITH RED CLAM SAUCE



Spaghetti with Red Clam Sauce image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 50m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

Three 6 1/2-ounce cans minced or whole clams
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or more to taste
One 28-ounce can whole tomatoes packed in juice, drained, and chopped
1 pound dry spaghetti or linguini
10 fresh basil leaves, chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Drain the clams reserving 1/2 cup of their juice and set aside. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook until softened, but not browned, about 3 minutes. Add the pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds more. Add the reserved clam juice and tomatoes, increase the heat and bring to a boil. Cover, and lower the heat to maintain a gentle simmer, cook for 15 minutes. Set aside. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, salt generously. Cook the pasta until al dente, tender yet still slightly firm. During the last 5 minutes of cooking the pasta stir the clams, basil, and parsley into the sauce. Bring to a simmer and season with salt and pepper to taste. Drain the pasta and add to the sauce and toss to combine evenly. Divide among warmed bowls and serve.

SPICY SPAGHETTI WITH CLAMS AND RED BELL PEPPER



Spicy Spaghetti with Clams and Red Bell Pepper image

Categories     Herb     Pasta     Pepper     Shellfish     Tomato     Appetizer     Sauté     Clam     Spring     Bon Appétit

Yield Serves 4

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup coarsely chopped red bell pepper
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano or 2 1/2 teaspoons dried
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes with added puree
1/2 cup dry red wine
24 small clams, scrubbed
3/4 pound spaghetti, freshly cooked

Steps:

  • Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper, garlic, oregano and dried red pepper. Sauté until bell pepper is almost tender, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and wine and simmer until flavors blend, about 2 minutes. Add clams. Cover and cook until clams open, about 8 minutes. Using tongs, transfer clams to bowl (discard any that do not open). Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Divide spaghetti among 4 bowls. Top with sauce and clams and serve.

SPICY LEMONY CLAMS WITH PASTA



Spicy Lemony Clams With Pasta image

Provided by Elaine Louie

Categories     dinner, easy, quick, pastas, soups and stews, main course

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound spaghetti, linguine or other pasta
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
8 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
36 littleneck clams, well scrubbed
3/4 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon hot pepper flakes
Finely grated zest of 2 lemons
Juice of 1 lemon
1/2 cup chopped Italian parsley

Steps:

  • Fill a large stockpot three-quarters full of water, and add 1 tablespoon salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, and add pasta. Boil until pasta is al dente, 7 to 8 minutes, and drain well. While pasta is cooking, prepare sauce.
  • In a large skillet over medium-low heat, heat olive oil. Add garlic, and saute just until garlic is translucent, about 2 minutes. Add clams and wine, and cover immediately. Raise heat to medium-high. Shake pan often, and check clams after 4 minutes. If any have opened, transfer them to a bowl so they do not overcook. Simmer remaining clams until all have opened.
  • In a large serving bowl, combine clams and broth from pan. Add pepper flakes, lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Add drained pasta, and toss well. Serve in soup bowls, accompanied by hot sourdough toast.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 834, UnsaturatedFat 24 grams, Carbohydrate 98 grams, Fat 30 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 35 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 869 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams, TransFat 0 grams

SPAGHETTI WITH CLAMS



Spaghetti With Clams image

For me, spaghetti with clams has to be ''white,'' which is to say without a tomato in sight -- and actually the first time I ate it this way was not in Italy but in one of my favorite Italian restaurants in New York, Da Silvano. This was a very long time ago, and I've been hooked ever since. I have specified amounts for a single portion here, because I feel cooking food you love is never something that should be reserved for company. Besides, this is quick and easy to make, and it's important sometimes to give yourself the treat of the perfect supper alone.

Provided by Nigella Lawson

Categories     dinner, quick, pastas, appetizer, main course

Time 15m

Yield 1 serving

Number Of Ingredients 8

Salt
8 to 12 littleneck or other small clams in the shell, scrubbed
1/4 pound spaghetti
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 to 1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 dried red chili pepper or 1/4 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
1/3 cup Noilly Prat or other vermouth or white wine
1 to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, soak clams in cold water.
  • Add spaghetti to boiling water, and cook until slightly underdone; pasta will finish cooking in sauce. Meanwhile, place a large saucepan over medium-low heat, and add olive oil, garlic and chili pepper. Sauté gently, reducing heat if necessary so garlic does not brown.
  • Add vermouth and clams, and cover. Clams should open in about 2 minutes. (If pasta is ready first, drain it and toss with a small amount of olive oil.) Add hot drained pasta, cover, and shake pot gently. Allow to simmer for another 1 or 2 minutes until it is done to taste.
  • Discard any clams that have not opened. Add half the parsley, and shake pan to distribute evenly. Transfer to a plate or bowl, and sprinkle with remaining parsley.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 825, UnsaturatedFat 24 grams, Carbohydrate 92 grams, Fat 30 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 31 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 782 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 0 grams

SPICY ASIAN-STYLE NOODLES WITH CLAMS



Spicy Asian-Style Noodles with Clams image

Provided by Sharon Buck

Categories     Pasta     Shellfish     Sauté     Dinner     Seafood     Clam     Noodle     Bon Appétit     Florida     Sugar Conscious     Pescatarian     Dairy Free     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     No Sugar Added

Yield Makes 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

8 ounces vermicelli pasta
2 tablespoons oriental sesame oil
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped onion
6 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped peeled fresh ginger
1 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1 cup water
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
24 fresh clams, scrubbed
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Steps:

  • Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally; drain well. Return to same pot; toss with 1 tablespoon sesame oil. Divide pasta among shallow bowls; cover and keep warm.
  • Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in same pot over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper, onion, garlic, ginger and dried red pepper. Sauté until bell pepper begins to soften, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup water, vinegar and soy sauce and bring to boil. Add clams. Cover pot and cook until clams open, about 10 minutes (discard any clams that do not open).
  • Spoon clams and sauce over pasta. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

PASTA WITH SPICY RED CLAM SAUCE



Pasta With Spicy Red Clam Sauce image

Make and share this Pasta With Spicy Red Clam Sauce recipe from Food.com.

Provided by ellie3763

Categories     Vegetable

Time 30m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 (6 1/2 ounce) cans clams, in juice
3 cups tomato sauce
1 cup white wine
3 anchovy fillets
1 small onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons capers
1 tablespoon dried basil or 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
salt and pepper

Steps:

  • Heat some olive oil in a large skillet. When hot add the anchovy fillets and onion.
  • Once the onions turn translucent, add the garlic, capers and clams along with the clam juice.
  • Add the white wine, tomato sauce, and red pepper flakes. Allow to simmer until heated through. Salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the basil.
  • Pour over cooked pasta and toss to coat the pasta well. Serve with hot with a sprinkling of romano cheese if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 198.3, Fat 1.9, SaturatedFat 0.3, Cholesterol 33.5, Sodium 1255.8, Carbohydrate 21.2, Fiber 3.7, Sugar 9.3, Protein 15.6

SPAGHETTI AND CLAMS



Spaghetti and Clams image

A simple, tasty, and relatively light pasta dish that can be whipped up in no time for a delicious weeknight meal or even for company. Goes great with a sprinkling of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, green salad, and good crusty bread!

Provided by Cindy

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Seafood Main Dish Recipes     Clams

Time 45m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 9

½ pound uncooked pasta
¼ cup butter
½ cup chopped onion
3 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
2 (8 ounce) cans chopped clams, drained with juices reserved
¼ cup fresh parsley, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
water
1 (3 ounce) package freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
  • Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Stir in onion and garlic, and cook 5 minutes, or until onion is translucent. Add clams, stirring frequently for 3 minutes, or until clams are lightly browned. Stir in parsley, olive oil, and reserved clam juice mixed with enough water to equal 2 cups liquid.
  • Increase heat and bring to a low boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve over pasta with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 558.2 calories, Carbohydrate 34.2 g, Cholesterol 126.1 mg, Fat 27.5 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 42.2 g, SaturatedFat 12.5 g, Sodium 539.9 mg, Sugar 1.5 g

SPAGHETTI WITH RED CLAM SAUCE



Spaghetti with Red Clam Sauce image

Provided by Melissa Roberts

Categories     Pasta     Tomato     Quick & Easy     High Fiber     Dinner     Clam     Healthy     Gourmet     Pescatarian     Dairy Free     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free

Yield Makes 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

1/3 cup olive oil
3 large garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried hot red-pepper flakes
1 (28- to 32-ounce) can whole tomatoes in juice, coarsely chopped, reserving juice
2 teaspoons sugar
1 pound spaghetti
3 dozen hard-shelled clams such as littlenecks

Steps:

  • Heat oil in a 12- to 14-inch heavy skillet over medium heat until it shimmers, then cook garlic with red-pepper flakes, stirring, until pale golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add tomatoes with their juice, sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and briskly simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 7 to 10 minutes.
  • Cook spaghetti in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (3 tablespoons salt for 6 quarts water) until al dente.
  • Meanwhile, add clams (in shells) to sauce and cook, covered, shaking skillet occasionally, until clams open wide, 6 to 10 minutes (discard any clams that remain unopened after 10 minutes). Transfer clams (still in shells) as cooked to a large shallow bowl. If sauce is too watery, boil until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
  • Drain spaghetti. Return clams to sauce and add pasta, tossing

SPICY CLAM PASTA WITH BACON, PEAS AND BASIL



Spicy Clam Pasta With Bacon, Peas and Basil image

In a pinch, canned baby clams make a very decent pasta ingredient. There is great variation between different brands of canned clams - some are not salty at all, so bear that in mind when seasoning. The liquid in the cans is not needed here, but you may save it for another purpose if you wish.

Provided by David Tanis

Categories     dinner, main course

Time 20m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 cup basil leaves, loosely packed, plus some pretty ones reserved for garnish
1 cup Italian parsley leaves, loosely packed
2 small garlic cloves, minced
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 ounces bacon, cut into lardons
2 (10-ounce) cans baby clams, drained
1 teaspoon finely chopped serrano chile
Pinch of red-pepper flakes
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 pound spaghetti
Lemon wedges

Steps:

  • Put basil, parsley and garlic in a mortar or food processor. Add salt and pepper to taste and 1/4 cup oil. Pound or whiz to obtain a bright green purée.
  • Put a pot of water on to boil and make it very salty. (It will boil faster with the lid on.)
  • Over medium heat, render bacon in its own fat until browned and crisp but not hard, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Pour off fat but leave a small amount in the pan, just to coat the bottom.
  • Increase heat to medium-high, add 2 tablespoons olive oil, the clams, serrano chile and red pepper. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 2 minutes, stirring and coating clams well. Add peas and warm through, then turn off heat.
  • Boil pasta and cook until slightly underdone. Drain pasta and add to pan with clams. Turn heat to medium-high and stir all together. Add a splash of pasta water, if it seems dry. Add basil purée and toss well. Top with bacon and reserved basil leaves. Pass lemon wedges.

Tips:

  • Fresh Clams: Use the freshest clams you can find. Fresh clams should have tightly closed shells and smell like the sea.
  • Soaking Clams: Before cooking, soak the clams in cold water for at least 30 minutes to remove any sand or grit.
  • Sautéing Aromatics: Sauté the onion, garlic, and red bell pepper until softened and fragrant. This will build flavor and depth to the sauce.
  • Cooking Clams: Add the clams to the pan with the aromatics and cook until the shells open, about 5-7 minutes. Discard any clams that do not open.
  • Deglazing the Pan: After removing the clams, deglaze the pan with white wine. This will help dissolve any browned bits and add flavor to the sauce.
  • Adding Tomatoes: Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes to develop the flavors.
  • Adding Spaghetti: Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Reserve some of the pasta cooking water before draining.
  • Combining Sauce and Spaghetti: Add the cooked spaghetti to the sauce and stir to combine. If the sauce is too thick, add some of the reserved pasta cooking water to thin it out.
  • Garnish and Serve: Garnish the spaghetti with chopped parsley and red pepper flakes before serving. Serve immediately.

Conclusion:

This spicy spaghetti with clams and red bell pepper is a flavorful and easy-to-make seafood pasta dish. The combination of tender clams, sautéed vegetables, and a spicy tomato sauce creates a delicious and satisfying meal. Whether you're a seafood lover or just looking for a new and exciting pasta recipe, this dish is sure to impress. So, gather your ingredients, put on your apron, and let's get cooking!

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