Spaghetti with Clams

Spaghetti alle vongole (spaghetti with clams) originated in Naples and is very popular throughout the surrounding Campania region in addition to Rome. Italians prepare this dish two ways: with tomatoes (in rosso) and without (in bianco).
Ingredients
- 4 liters (1 gallon) water
- Salt, to taste
- 450 g (1 lb) dry spaghetti
- Olive oil
- 20 g (¾ oz) garlic, minced
- 1 kg (2 lb) live clams
- 225 g (8 oz) diced plum tomatoes (see notes)
- 225 g (8 oz) canned, shelled clams, thoroughly rinsed (optional)
- 120 ml (4 oz) bottled clam broth (optional)
- 1 handful of parsley, minced
- Peperoncino or, less commonly, black pepper to taste
Steps
- Boil water with a tablespoon of salt in large pot.
- Add spaghetti when water boils. Cook 7–8 min until al dente.
- Heat olive oil in large, wide pan, enough to barely cover bottom.
- Add garlic and peperoncino. Sauté about 1 min until golden brown. Do not burn garlic.
- Add live clams and diced tomatoes.
- Cover. Cook about 8 min. Shake pan every minute to help clams open. Discard unopened clams.
- Drain spaghetti. Add to pan with clams and tomatoes. Reduce heat to low.
- Add canned clams and clam broth.
- Season with salt (and pepper if peperoncino is not used). Toss until pasta is coated with tomatoes and oil. Add another tablespoon olive oil if desired.
- Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
- Serve hot.
Notes from the original
- See more information on cooking with live clams on their ingredient page.
- Resist the urge to add cheese. This recipe is intended as a light summer dish.
- Omit the tomatoes to make spaghetti alle vongole in bianco.
Source. Adapted from “Cookbook:Spaghetti with Clams” by Wikibooks contributors, revision of 2026-04-12, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Changes. Steps rewritten into short commands. Introduction shortened. Wiki formatting removed. This adapted recipe is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo. Spaghetti vongole 2.jpg by Popo le Chien, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia. Resized; otherwise unchanged.






