Spaghetti alle vongole
(Spaghetti con le vongole, Linguine alle vongole)
Quick and easy to prepare, yet packing some serious flavor, spaghetti alle vongole is a traditional Neapolitan dish consisting of only two key ingredients: vongole clams and pasta. However, there is a heated debate considering secondary ingredients, primarily the tomatoes.
Purists adore the original dish, made without tomatoes, known as bianco version, while the others prefer a version with crushed tomatoes, or a version with a tomato sauce, known as spaghetti alle vongole con la salsa di pomodoro.
Similar issues arise regarding the addition or omission of peperoncino and pepper in the dish. Regardless of these issues, everyone agrees that the pasta should be cooked al dente. Although the dish is best in the summer, when all of the ingredients are as fresh as they might be, it is also one of the most important meals of the traditional Neapolitan Christmas Eve dinner, known as Cena della vigilia di Natale.
Pairing tips
Soave
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Fiano
Mostly cultivated in Campania, Fiano is an old Italian variety that has seen a significant revival since the 1980s. This low-yielding, early-ripening ... Read more
Catarratto
Catarratto is an ancient and little-known Sicilian white grape. In the past, it was mainly used for unimpressive, bland wines, but some producers have shown that ... Read more
Falanghina
Falanghina is an old Italian white grape variety that is mostly associated and cultivated in Campania. For a very long time, it was not known that the name was ... Read more
Recipe variations
Spaghetti alle Vongole in Bianco
READY IN 40minThe following spaghetti alle vongole in bianco recipe shows the traditional preparation of the dish with only the most basic ingredients, with peperoncino being the optional ingredient. The term in bianco in the name means that the sauce is white and has no tomatoes.
Spaghetti alle Vongole in Bianco with White Wine
READY IN 25minThe following recipe gives instructions on how to prepare spaghetti alle vongole in bianco the traditional way, with the addition of white wine.
Spaghetti alle Vongole in Rosso
READY IN 25minThe following is the recipe for spaghetti alle vongle in rosso, meaning the sauce has tomatoes; in this case, it's tomato sauce. Make sure you reserve some of the starchy water when cooking the spaghetti so you can add it to the sauce.
Spaghetti alle Vongole in Rosso with Cherry Tomatoes and Peperoncino
READY IN 25minThis recipe adapted from the website Napoli Unplugged, an award-winning insider's guide to Naples, gives instructions on how to prepare spaghetti alle vongole in rosso with cherry tomatoes seasoned with peperoncino that packs a bit of heat.
Spaghetti alle vongole Authentic recipe
The following spaghetti alle vongole in bianco recipe shows the traditional preparation of the dish with only the most basic ingredients, with peperoncino being the optional ingredient. The term in bianco in the name means that the sauce is white and has no tomatoes.
WHERE TO EAT The best Spaghetti alle vongole in the world (according to food experts)
