Japanese Style Noodles With Clams

This recipe combines littleneck clams with pasta, such as linguine or spaghetti. It also has shiitake mushrooms and garlic. The nori (seaweed) garnish is stunning if you can get it.

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

•  kosher salt
• 1  lb pasta (linguine or spaghetti)
• 3  tablespoons canola oil
• 1⁄2 lb shiitake mushroom, stemmed and sliced thin
• 1⁄2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 2  garlic cloves, sliced thin
• 1  lb littleneck clams
• 2  tablespoons sake or 2  tablespoons mirin
•  soy sauce, to taste
• 1⁄4 cup nori, julienned (optional garnish)
• 2  green onions, sliced thin on the diagonal

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; cook pasta according to package directions; drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the liquid.
2. Toss pasta with one tablespoon of the oil and set aside.
3. Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a skillet over medium heat; add mushrooms, pepper flakes, garlic, and cook, stirring often, about 3 minutes.
4. Add clams and sake or mirin, cover, and cook until shells open, about 5 minutes.
5. Add pasta and soy sauce, toss; add pasta liquid to reach desired consistency.
6. Transfer pasta and clams to serving bowls, garnish with nori and green onions; serve.