Spaghetti with Clams and Crispy Bread Crumbs

By joanmarie

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup panko
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground pepper
• 2 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 3 dozen Manila clams or cockles, scrubbed
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1 pound spaghetti
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 1/2 tablespoons finely grated mullet bottarga (optional; see Note)
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped thyme
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped rosemary
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley

Details

Servings 6
Cooking time 30mins
Adapted from foodandwine.com

Preparation

Step 1

Step 1
In a medium skillet, combine the panko with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and toast over moderate heat, tossing, until golden, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a small bowl.

Step 2
In a deep skillet, heat the remaining 1/4 cup of oil. Add the garlic and cook over moderate heat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the clams and wine and simmer over moderately high heat until the wine is slightly reduced and the clams just start to open, about 4 minutes.

Step 3
Meanwhile, in a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Add the pasta, cooking water, lemon zest and juice, bottarga, red pepper and herbs to the clams and toss over moderately high heat until the pasta is well coated and the clams are completely open, 2 minutes. Discard any clams that do not open. Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with the toasted panko and serve.
Chef's Notes

Bottarga is the roe of tuna or mullet that has been salted, pressed and dried; it can be grated or shaved paper-thin. It is available at specialty food stores and online at gourmetsardinia.com and gustiamo.com.