Description
Think pasta and clams with a couscous like pasta shape. Fregola with clams brings all the classic flavors you love, using a delicious, toasted dried pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2lb (2 dozen) littleneck clams, scrubbed & soaked
- 8oz (1 ½ cups) fregola
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 4 tbsp butter, sliced
- ¼ cup basil, loosely packed, torn
- ¼ cup parsley, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp tarragon, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp finely chopped lemon peel*
Instructions
- Cook fregola: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season generously with salt. Add fregola and cook 6-8 minutes or until very al dente. Drain reserving a cup of cooking water. Set aside.
- Cook clams: While water comes to a boil, add oil, garlic and red pepper to a large pan. Warm over medium heat until garlic begins to sizzle. Add wine and reduce by half. Add clams, cover and cook about 4 minutes or until clams open. Remove clams and set aside.
- Create sauce and combine: Add fregola to pan with clam juices. Working over medium to medium high heat, add ½ cup of cooking water, or as needed, along with butter and toss until a thick, emulsified sauce forms. Stir in herbs and add back clams.
- Serve: Spoon fregola and clams into bowls. Top with chopped lemon peel and a drizzle of oil. Enjoy.
Notes
To prepare lemon peel, use a peeler to remove rind. Finely mince by slicing into long thin strips, and then chopping in the opposite direction. You may also zest lemon normally as an alternative.
If desired, you can substitute mint or chives for the suggested herbs, and use them in any combination or amount you prefer.
If you can’t find fregola and don’t want to purchase it online, substitute large couscous.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Boil, steam, saute
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of fregola & 6 clams
- Calories: 670
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 1370mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Carbohydrates: 53g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 37g
