Linguine with Clams Casino.
If you are in need of a last minute Valentine’s Day dinner, I have just the ticket.
And if you’ve already celebrated or are going out to eat, I must convince you to make this as soon as you’re back in the kitchen.
It’s easy.
It’s inexpensive.
It’s fast.
It’s mouth watering.
Get some little clams, even if they freak you out. Trust me, I’d rather have the real stuff, but for some reason I don’t quite have access to that in Pennsylvania. I wonder why?
I’ve never been good at geography.
What we have here is a twist on linguine with clam sauce and clams casino. Two of my favorite things. Obviously.
My mom used to make linguine with clam sauce when I was growing up, and I think she went through a big linguine and clam sauce phase in the 60s and 70s. It seemed to be popular then, didn’t it? If she wasn’t making fondue, she was making linguine with clam sauce. I envision her cooking it for friends while wearing bell bottoms and paisley prints. I’m afraid to think about where the night went after that since they were “into the arts” in the 60s and 70s. Whatever that means.
The clams casino inspiration comes from every summer at the beach, when my dad and uncle make a giant seafood feast consisting of beer-battered fish, beer-braised scallops, clams casino and so much more.
Oh summer… where art thou?
A seafood dish isn’t a seafood dish without wine.
Don’t forget to pour yourself a glass. That’s the most important part of the recipe!
Ah.. my old friend.
You’re doomed.
Crispy bacon adds so much to a pasta dish. To say this linguine is bursting with flavor would be an understatement. White wine, sauteed onions, garlic, clams, bacon, parmesan…
There isn’t much more I want out of life.
Except I sort of want a puppy too. Mr. How Sweet isn’t game though. He says I have to have a goldfish first, and it has to survive for an entire year. Like… an entire year STRAIGHT. Then I can move on to a hamster. Then a guinea pig. Then a cat. Then a purse-sized dog. Then a medium dog. Then maybe… a large dog. Which is the kind of dog I want. And I have to have all of these before I can even consider How Sweet spawns.
Though when it comes down to it, I really don’t want a dog at all, because I can’t even take care of myself. There are dishes piled to the ceiling in our kitchen, clothes covering our entire bedroom floor, cobwebs in every corner, Christmas decorations hanging out in the living room, and well… I just can’t be bothered to get up in the middle of the night.
But I still tried to bribe Mr. How Sweet with the linguine. I think it sort of worked.
I gotta tell you… I think this is my favorite pasta dish to date. Also my favorite current dinner. Mr. How Sweet and I ate it like it was going out of style. And then we ate more.
I promise you won’t be disappointed.Â
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Clams Casino Linguine
serves 3-4
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup chopped red peppers
1/2 cup chopped onions
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans minced clams in clam juice, 13 ounces total
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons butter
2 slices bacon, fried and crumbled
1/2 pound whole wheat linguine
1/4 cup parmesan cheese + more for garnish
freshly chopped parsley for garnish
Boil a pot of water for pasta and cook according to directions.
While pasta is cooking, heat a skillet on medium heat and add olive oil. Add chopped onions and peppers with a pinch of salt and saute until soft, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Add in both cans of clams + juice and bring the mixture to a boil. Add white wine and let mixture simmer for about 5 full minutes. Stir in butter.
Turn heat down to low and add cooked linguine. Toss to allow the noodles to soak up the sauce. Add in parmesan cheese, crumbled bacon and parsley.
Serve with additional parmesan and crusty bread.
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Coming up… some of my favorite recipes ever this week. I know. So dramatic aren’t I?
113 Comments on “Linguine with Clams Casino.”
Sigh. Ben’s running a 100 degree fever and snotting everywhere.
I love this dish! I’m one of those whose never cooked with clams before. You make it looks so easy I just have to give it a shot :)
Easy, inexpensive comfort food? I’m in!
Great dinner idea!
I used to love linguine with clams and I am loving this twist on the dish!
I love linguine with clam sauce… why haven’t I ever made a homemade version? After reading this post, I most certainly will!
This dish has always intimidated me. To me it always seems so difficult! Thanks for the recipe! Happy Valentine’s Day! :-D
It’s really not hard at all! You must try it.
I had other plans for dinner tonight but it looks like those just went out the window…I will now be stopping at the store to buy clams, bacon (ran out yesterday), and red peppers on my way home from work!
Josh’s dad makes a mean pasta with clam sauce and Josh LOVES it. I’ve never tried making it at home. The result looks great. And perfect for Valentine’s day!! Hope you have a good one filled with lots of yummy treats
Haha I used to be so scared of canned clams – such a weirdo right? That was until I tried Jenna’s clam pasta dish and was totally converted – love them. This pasta recipe sounds great, I love how you added the clams casino touch!!! Happy Valentines day to you and your hubs :)
I’ll loan you my dog for a week if you want – he’s a lot of fun, but he might eat your socks. You might not want t aodg after he leaves.
PS – that is the clearest wine I have ever seen in my life! What kind is it? For a second I thought you were drinking vodka straight up.
Hahah I have no idea why it is so clear. It is pinot grigio and it was not that clear in real life. No idea why it looks like that in the picture, but I thought the same thing!
If it makes you feel better, I’ve never had much luck in the goldfish OR hamster department, but the dog has lasted four years under my responsibility without too major of damage – how serious are you about your love of shoes though? That might be the only problem if I loaned you my puppy :)
I could never handle that. Growing up our dogs ruined multiple pairs of expensive shoes. My shoes would have to be under lock and key. This is a reason we do not have one yet!
This looks, no joke, as gorgeous as the clam pasta I had in Florence last year.
Sigh.
This looks fabulous! Must bookmark fo sho.
YUM! I love linguine with white clam sauce, so I know I will love your twist on it! The bacon must make this “over the top” delicious!
oh my word. you’re right, crispy bacon in pasta = heavenly. you’re also right about me being doomed with this one…
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I’m a sucker for clams. Love the idea of making this restaurant-style dish at home.
I say this all the time but I flippin’ LOVE you! I love the progression of animal owning! ;)
Call me naive, but I’ve never tried clams before! Maybe something for an upcoming Try Something New Tuesday feature… hmmm… might have to make this recipe too! :)
Ah! You MUST try. :) They are best fresh, but these aren’t too shabby!
You make me wish I loved clams!
YUM. Beautiful photo of the wine being poured!
Looks terrific! I love me a good pasta dish, and this one with clams has got my mouth watering! :-p
That sounds amazing! It’s definitely worth a trip to the Strip to pick up some fresh clams. Any excuse I have to go to Wholley’s is a meal worth making to me. ;)
Jessica, this sounds and looks amazing. I haven’t had linguine with clam sauce in ages and ages. I’m putting this on my shopping list for sure. Happy Valentines Day!
I am glad to see you get yours to eat whole wheat pasta. Mine detests the consistency EVEN if it IS healthier! Nice dish!
He was eating it long before I came along! I love it too. I actually grew up hating pasta and I think that is probably why I like the whole wheat… chewy and more flavorful! :)
That looks fantastic! I wish my boo ate meat.
He doesn’t eat meat?!
This sounds lovely!! and looks delicious. Happy Valentine’s Day!
confession: I have never made anything at home using clams. I should change that, because this looks so, so good.
So funny! I grew up in PA and my mom made linguini with white clam sauce once a week while I was growing up – I wonder if it was a decade thing or a location thing…?
Haha! Maybe?
that looks so amazing! by the way, i found these the other day and i might break down and buy them because they sound incredible. . . http://www.baconfreak.com/vosges-milk-and-dark-chocolate-bacon-bars.html
I’ve had them before… They are so good!
Love linguine with clams sauce – especially with the bacon addition, duh right??!! Happy Valentine’s Day! xo
I love how bacon can turn a dish from good to fan-freakin-tastic. Linguine with clams casino sounds awesome, great recipe!
This pasta looks delicious! My mom makes a dish similar to this one all the time because my dad LOVES it!
I can’t wait to try this!!
This looks so good, I can’t wait to try it!
Looks so good :) I’ve already copy/ pasted it into Word so that I can print it out & add it to my list to make in the upcoming days :)
Happy Valentine’s Day!
I hope you love it!
Linguine just sounds so romantic, no?
I agree!
Your blog is kind of like my very own “Happy Valentine’s Day, every day, Natalia.” Just so you know… :)
You are the best.
this looks awesome! I actually just started to like clams! I know…crazy. Will definitely need to try out this recipe.
Oh you must certainly try it then! Continue the clam love!
This totally dominates my linguine and clam sauce recipe — hellooo, white wine and bacon!
Do you drain the clams, or include juice and all?
Yep, everything!
Great! I’ll give it a try. :)
Yum. Looks great. I love linguine with clams, adding bacon sounds heavenly.
I will most certainly be making this. It looks and sounds incredibly delicious and love how easy it is to prepare.
Haven’t decided yet what to make for dinner tonight… May have to ask the mister if he’d like to try your clams casino :)
It’s take-out for us tonight but I will have to try this one soon, it looks so good!
This looks great! It’s one of those dishes that seems fancy, but takes 10 minutes to make. I just made pasta carbonara, so I’m not sure how soon I can justify another pasta dish with bacon, but this is going on this list!
You never need to justify bacon!
;)
So I’m a noob… I’ve only had fried clams – I’m not really a fan of very “seafood”-y tasting things. Can you comment on the flavor of clams?? Are they very briny and fishy?
Not at all, at least not in my opinion. You will get a slight seafood taste but it is certainly not overwhelming.
As a non clam lover this actually looks good! But anything you make always looks good and tasty.
It might convert you!
You eat clams, I eat vegetables. I think we can call it even!
I suppose… ;)