Manila Clams with Angel Hair in a light lemon garlic sauce with smoky pieces of bacon and fresh torn basil.
Perhaps my favorite dinner of summer. Light enough for warm nights but satisfying as a meal. It’s got all the fresh flavors from the lemon garlic sauce to the fresh torn basil. It just feels like what you should be eating outdoors on a nice warm night. Plus, manila clams are super fun to eat!
Manila clams are local to the Pacific Northwest and are known for their sweet and meaty texture. Their shells are thinner than most clams, leaving more room for meat. If you’re in the area, stop by Taylor Shellfish Farms and pick some up.
Ingredients in Manila Clams with Angel Hair
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- Manila Clams – Sweet and tender, find them at Taylor Shellfish Farms .
- Angel Hair Pasta – Light and delicate – find it on Amazon.
- Bacon – Good, smoky bacon.
- Shallot – Adds a mild onion flavor.
- Basil – Fresh torn basil.
- Garlic – Minced garlic.
- Sherry – Cooking wine – Find it on Amazon.
- Chives – Fresh chopped chives for garnish.
- Butter – Yes…real butter.
- Cream – Heavy whipping cream.
Related Recipes
Can get enough seafood? Me either! It’s my favorite thing about living near the coast. Try Steamer Clams with Bacon and Fennel next time you want a light dinner to share with friends. Feeling like a romantic dinner with your sweetheart? Make this Seafood and Sweet Corn Pasta – it’s extra special. For a lighter take on chowder, try Farm Style Clam Chowder. You will love it!
Tried It?
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Manila Clams with Angel Hair
Ingredients
- 5 oz. angel hair pasta about 1/3 of a box dried pasta)
- 2 tbsp. butter
- 2 strips bacon
- 2 lb. manila clams scrubbed
- 1 large shallot thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp. garlic minced
- 1/2 cup sherry wine
- 1 tbsp. heavy cream
- 2 lemons sliced in wedges
- 1/4 cup fresh basil torn
- 1/4 cup fresh chives chopped
Instructions
- Prepare angel hair pasta according to directions (al dente). Drain, don't rinse. Toss with butter.
- In a large, deep edged pan, cook bacon strips over medium high heat. When browned, remove from pan and rough chop, set aside. Leave bacon grease in pan.
- Add shallot and garlic to pan, add manila clams and let sit for 1 minute. Add sherry wine. Cook until the clams open. Add heavy cream.
- Place angel hair pasta on serving platter, pour clams and all the sauce over top, squeeze a few lemon wedges over, add chopped bacon, basil and chives.
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