Fregola with Clams

A flavorful Italian seafood pasta dish featuring tender fregola cooked with fresh littleneck clams in a garlic and white wine sauce, finished with parsley and lemon zest.

4 servings
24 min

Ingredients

  • cups fregola
  • 1 to taste kosher salt
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 24 pieces littleneck clams
  • 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Cook fregola in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until very al dente, 6-8 minutes; drain.

    8 min

  2. 2.

    Meanwhile, heat 1/2 cup oil in a Dutch oven or other large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Carefully add wine; bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until reduced by half, about 3 minutes.

    4 min

  3. 3.

    Add clams, cover, and cook, transferring clams to a bowl as they open (discard any that do not open), 6-8 minutes. Add fregola to cooking liquid in pot and cook, stirring, until fregola is tender and sauce is slightly thickened (there should still be plenty of liquid), about 2 minutes. Return clams to pot and cook until warmed through.

    10 min

  4. 4.

    Divide fregola and clams among bowls, drizzle with oil, and top with parsley and lemon zest.

    2 min