Linguine with Clams in Sake Red Chili Sauce

Dinner was never easier! Linguine with Clams in Sake Red Chili Sauce gives an Asian twist to an Italian classic, all in 20 minutes.

Note: This recipe for Linguine with Clams in Sake Red Chili Sauce was first published March 16, 2011 on Kitchen Confidante. Updated photos were added on May 23, 2018.

Are you a twirler or a slurper? Use a fork or a spoon? Or both?

When it comes to pasta, I get a kick out of watching people (especially kids) transfer strands of pasta to their mouth. I myself prefer the fork-twirl-with-spoon method and have been trying to teach this technique to my children, but it is a skill they struggle to perfect. Perhaps it’s for the best because apparently, using fork with spoon is actually considered poor form. Ask around and you’ll surely incite a debate, even amongst Italians. But I recently learned that while it is proper etiquette to provide diners with a spoon to help toss pasta and sauce on the plate or bowl, purists and pasta experts use the fork alone to twirl and eat their pasta. Who knew?

I thought of this the other night when I made Linguine with Clams. But I threw those rules out the window. After all, this was Linguine with Clams in a Sake Red Chili Sauce. This Asian spin on the Italian favorite is actually more understated than it sounds, but I figured it would permit the Filipino etiquette of eating with fork and spoon to this bowl of pasta.

Discussion on how to eat it aside, I have to say, I really need to remember to make this dish more than once a year. It’s so simple and effortless, it is the perfect weeknight meal. I promised my family I would throw this into the repertoire more often…which I suppose means the kids can practice perfecting that fork twirl.

Linguine with Clams in Sake Red Chili Sauce

Twirl your fork in linguine with clams with an Asian-inspired twist! Sake, red-chile sauce and a touch of cilantro make this a delicious pasta dish you can cook in just 20 minutes!

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Course Main Course

Cuisine Asian, Italian

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 430kcal

Author Liren Baker

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 lb linguine
• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic finely minced
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ▢ 3/4 cup sake (or your favorite white wine)
• ▢ 1 cup clam stock
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon red chili paste (add more if you really like kick)
• ▢ 4 lbs clams
• ▢ 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ▢ 1/2 cup cilantro chopped

COOK MODEPrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season with Kosher salt and cook linguine until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
• While the pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper, and saute for about 1 to 2 minutes, or until the garlic starts to turn golden.
• Add sake and clam stock and allow the liquid to reduce for about three minutes. Stir in the red chili paste. 
• Add clams to the pan, cover and let cook for about 8-10 minutes, or until the clams open up. Discard any unopened clams.
•  Stir in the butter and cilantro. Add linguine to the pan and toss until the pasta is coated in sauce. Serve immediately!

Nutrition

Calories: 430kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 476mg | Potassium: 234mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 385IU | Vitamin C: 2.2mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1.8mg

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