Manila Clams with Beans & Sausage

Description

I love clams, but they can be a little pricey as a main dish. Stretch out that briny goodness by adding other ingredients that enhance and deepen their salty-sweet flavor. With a nice loaf of crusty artisan bread or Portuguese sweet bread, this dinner is a surprising collection of flavors and textures.

30 min

4 Servings

Ingredients

1 lb

manilla clams (cleaned)

1 Tbsp

extra virgin olive oil

large cloves of garlic (minced)

1 tsp

dried sweet basil

1/2 tsp

dried red pepper flakes

medium Portuguese sausage (halved lengthwise and sliced thin)

3/4 cup

white wine (or low-sodium chicken stock)

1 can

cannellini beans (white kidney beans; 14 oz. can; rinsed and drained)

2 Tbsp

butter

1 bunch

baby spinach

small handful of flatleaf parsley (chopped; about ¼ cup)

salt (to taste)

fresh ground black pepper (to taste)

sliced bread to serve

Prep Time:

30 min

Total Time:

30 min

Instructions

In a medium pot or wide saucepan, heat the oil and sauté the garlic for 1 minute. Add the basil, pepper flakes, and the Portuguese sausage, and cook until the sausage pieces are slightly browned (at this point you can tilt the pot/pan and take out any excess oil). Add the wine and beans, and turn up the heat to a brisk boil until the liquid is reduced by 1/3. Add in the clams and butter. When all the clams have opened (discard any that don't), add in the spinach and parsley, toss gently and season to taste.

Serve in a shallow bowl, and be sure to provide a generous hunk of bread.

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