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Spaghetti with Baby Clams

A light yet flavorful seafood pasta made with spaghetti, tender baby clams, garlic, olive oil, parsley, and lemon for a fresh coastal-style dinner that feels both elegant and easy.

  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces spaghetti
  • 2 pounds baby clams, scrubbed
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 5 cloves garlic, finely sliced
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1/2 cup dry white grape juice
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil over high heat.
  2. Rinse and scrub the baby clams well. Chop the parsley, slice the garlic, and measure the remaining ingredients.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, then cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the white grape juice and let it simmer for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the baby clams, cover, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, shaking the pan once or twice, until the clams open. Discard any that do not open.
  5. Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
  6. Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet with the clams. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, black pepper, and most of the parsley. Toss well, adding a splash of reserved pasta water as needed until the sauce lightly coats the pasta.
  7. Taste and adjust salt if needed. Top with the remaining parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Clean the clams thoroughly to avoid grit in the final dish.
  • Do not overcook the clams, remove them from the heat once they open.
  • Reserved pasta water helps create a silky, glossy sauce.
  • This pasta is best served immediately while hot and freshly tossed.
  • Author: Monica
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Diet: Low Calorie

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 460
  • Sugar: 2g
  • Sodium: 520mg
  • Fat: 14g
  • Saturated Fat: 2g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 11g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 56g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 24g
  • Cholesterol: 55mg

Keywords: spaghetti with baby clams, clam pasta, seafood spaghetti, Italian seafood pasta, garlic olive oil pasta