Sometimes, mid-cooking, I like to jettison my plan and make a new, better plan. The trick is knowing when it’s better. I’m not saying I randomly hobble myself, cruelty-cooking-show style, it’s just that it’s exciting to change it up sometimes. And it surprises the family. Historically, some of the best jettison dinners at my house have started out as regular old pasta night and ended up as gather-around-the-skillet-with-bowls-and-bread night. This was one of those.
Recipe information
Yield
6 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Finely chop the almonds either by crushing with a rolling pin and chopping with a knife, or in a food processor. In a medium bowl, stir the almonds, butter, and parsley together until smooth. Don’t add salt—the clams will do that. Set aside while you cook the clams.
Step 2
Heat a large skillet to medium and add the oil, then the garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Swirl the pan and, before the garlic browns at all, add the clams and wine. Cover the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until all the clams have opened. If a few won’t open, that’s okay; let them keep their deep secrets. Add the almond and parsley butter and stir so that it melts and mixes with the clam broth. Serve hot with spoons, bread, and napkins.
Variation
Step 3
Do it the way I originally planned and pluck some, or all, of the cooked clams from their shells, return to the skillet, and toss with hot boiled linguine.
