How to Make Clam Sauce for Pasta (Like Nana Used to Make)

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Make Clam Sauce for Pasta (Like Nana Used to Make)

How to Make Clam Sauce for Pasta (Like Nana Used to Make)

Whip up this delicious sauce in the time it takes your pasta to cook! My Sicilian grandmother taught me this recipe though I learned it by tasting rather than measuring.

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Step 1 of 20
This is me with my Nana. She lived with us when I was growing up & I remember she always had all the burners of the stove going at once with sauces, soups & other recipes from her native Sicily.

This is me with my Nana. She lived with us when I was growing up & I remember she always had all the burners of the stove going at once with sauces, soups & other recipes from her native Sicily.

Step 2 of 20
Gather your ingredients. Oops, the butter, flour & wine were unable to be present during the taking of this photo. This recipe serves 2 to 3 people so just increase the amounts accordingly.

Gather your ingredients. Oops, the butter, flour & wine were unable to be present during the taking of this photo. This recipe serves 2 to 3 people so just increase the amounts accordingly.

Step 3 of 20
Put your water on to boil. Add some salt and olive oil to the water. By the time the pasta is ready, the sauce will be ready too!

Put your water on to boil. Add some salt and olive oil to the water. By the time the pasta is ready, the sauce will be ready too!

Step 4 of 20
Open the can of clams. Drain and save the clam juice.

Open the can of clams. Drain and save the clam juice.

Step 5 of 20
Wash and save the can lid for the craft project you'll find in one of my other guides.

Wash and save the can lid for the craft project you'll find in one of my other guides.

Step 6 of 20
It's ideal to use chopped clams. But I only had whole clams so I'm chopping them.

It's ideal to use chopped clams. But I only had whole clams so I'm chopping them.

Step 7 of 20
You want smaller pieces like this.

You want smaller pieces like this.

Step 8 of 20
Chop the garlic and set aside.

Chop the garlic and set aside.

Step 9 of 20
Chop your parsley and have that ready too.

Chop your parsley and have that ready too.

Step 10 of 20
Yay, the water is boiling!

Yay, the water is boiling!

Step 11 of 20
Add the pasta. I like to use fettuccine or linguine with this recipe but you can use any pasta that you like.

Add the pasta. I like to use fettuccine or linguine with this recipe but you can use any pasta that you like.

Step 12 of 20
While the pasta is cooking, let's prepare the sauce. The sauce will be ready just when the pasta is ready. First, melt about 2 tablespoons of butter in a pan and sauté the garlic.

While the pasta is cooking, let's prepare the sauce. The sauce will be ready just when the pasta is ready. First, melt about 2 tablespoons of butter in a pan and sauté the garlic.

Step 13 of 20
Then add about 2 tablespoons of flour and stir as it forms a paste.

Then add about 2 tablespoons of flour and stir as it forms a paste.

Step 14 of 20
Now add the clam juice that you saved from when you drained the clams. Stir that in well.

Now add the clam juice that you saved from when you drained the clams. Stir that in well.

Step 15 of 20
Add salt and pepper to taste. Sorry the photo is out of focus – I'm cooking with one hand and taking a photo with the other – yikes!

Add salt and pepper to taste. Sorry the photo is out of focus – I'm cooking with one hand and taking a photo with the other – yikes!

Step 16 of 20
Toss in the clams and then the chopped parsley.

Toss in the clams and then the chopped parsley.

Step 17 of 20
Stir the sauce as it thickens. I add a little bit of cooking wine (or any white wine will do) as necessary to get the right consistency. You don't want it too thick or too thin.

Stir the sauce as it thickens. I add a little bit of cooking wine (or any white wine will do) as necessary to get the right consistency. You don't want it too thick or too thin.

Step 18 of 20
The pasta is ready so drain it and shake to remove all the water.

The pasta is ready so drain it and shake to remove all the water.

Step 19 of 20
Put the pasta in a serving bowl…

Put the pasta in a serving bowl…

Step 20 of 20
Then add your sauce. So quick, easy & delicious!  I hope you enjoyed this guide & hope you'll follow me because I'm going to be putting up lots of my Nana's recipes in the days & weeks to come. Ciao!

Then add your sauce. So quick, easy & delicious! I hope you enjoyed this guide & hope you'll follow me because I'm going to be putting up lots of my Nana's recipes in the days & weeks to come. Ciao!

You're Done

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Bay Area, California USA
I love to create! All kinds of things. Food, crafts, jewelry, art, photos, theater, events, history, social justice. My proudest creation is my daughter!

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9 Comments
Supplies

2 Tablespoons Butter

3-4 cloves of garlic

1 6.5 oz. Can Chopped Clams (save the juice)

Fresh Parsley

Salt & Pepper

Flour

Cooking Wine (or other white wine)

Pasta (fettuccine or linguine best)

Felicia Gustin

So glad you enjoyed it, Mandi!

(author) 2 months ago

Mandi Robbins

Absolutely delicious!! Thank u!

Mandi Robbins 2 months ago

roozbeh salahi

cool , Thanks .

roozbeh salahi 9 months ago

Anna Sagatelova

Great, thanks for clarifying

Anna Sagatelova 9 months ago

Felicia Gustin

Whoops! Thanks for pointing that out Anna. You put in the clams once the sauce has come together, just before you put in the parsley. I fixed that on the guide so now it's clear. Enjoy!

(author) 9 months ago

Anna Sagatelova

Felicia, maybe I missed it, but at which step do you add the clams to the sauce?

Anna Sagatelova 9 months ago

Jebe Khan

Awww. Thanks!

Jebe Khan 9 months ago

Felicia Gustin

I love your guides too. So eclectic which is something I can totally appreciate. Sure, some might be a bit more complex but that makes the results all the more appreciated.

(author) 9 months ago

Jebe Khan

Simple and classic! I love easy food, tho you'd never know it from my guides...can't wait for more :)

Jebe Khan 9 months ago

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