Spicy Clam Chorizo Pasta

Name: Spicy Clam Chorizo Pasta
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 4 to 5 dozen small littleneck clams; 4 tablespoons olive oil (divided); 1/2 pound chorizo (casings removed and chopped); 1 cup finely chopped white onion; 5 garlic cloves (pressed or finely chopped); 2 chiles de arbol (stemmed, chopped (keep the seeds), or more to taste); 1 cup light beer (that you like to drink); 1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt (or to taste); 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 teaspoon honey; 1 pound spaghetti; 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves; 2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves

Pasta con Salsa Picante de Chorizo y Almejas

Recipe Yield

4 to 5 Servings

Cooking time

55 minutes

Rate this recipe

4.84 from 6 votes

Ingredients

4 to 5 dozen small littleneck clams
4 tablespoons olive oil divided
1/2 pound chorizo casings removed and chopped
1 cup finely chopped white onion
5 garlic cloves pressed or finely chopped
2 chiles de arbol stemmed, chopped (keep the seeds), or more to taste
1 cup light beer that you like to drink
1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt or to taste
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon honey
1 pound spaghetti
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves

To Prepare

Rinse and scrub the clams under cold water, making sure they are closed and unbroken. Discard any that aren’t closed. Drain well.
Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large pot or casserole set over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chorizo, breaking it into smaller pieces with two wooden spatulas or spoons, and fry until it begins to crisp and brown, about 4 minutes. Remove the chorizo with a slotted spoon and place in a bowl.
Add the 2 remaining tablespoons of olive oil to the rendered chorizo fat and reduce the heat to medium. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, for a couple minutes until softened. Add the garlic and chile de arbol and cook for a minute, until the garlic is fragrant and the chile de arbol begins to toast. Pour in the beer, add the salt, and once it comes to a simmer, incorporate the drained clams. Let it come to a simmer again, cover with a lid, and cook for 6 to 7 minutes, until the shells open.
Remove the lid and transfer the clams using a slotted spoon into a bowl, including the ones that may have fallen from the shells. Raise the heat to medium-high and continue to cook the beer-clam liquid for 6 to 7 minutes, so it strongly simmers and a lot of the alcohol evaporates. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and honey. Stir well, reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring once in between.
Meanwhile, bring salted water to a boil in a large pot. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 9 to 10 minutes.
Remove about 3 dozen clams from their shells and discard those shells. Remove the lid from the pot with the sauce and incorporate the cooked chorizo, shelled clams, and the clams still in their shells. Mix well.
Strain the spaghetti and add it to the sauce. Toss until it is coated. Transfer to a serving platter or individual bowls and garnish with the parsley and cilantro and serve.

Comments

26comments inSpicy Clam Chorizo Pasta

Anthony D.

Jun 01

What type of beer would you recommend?

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Nov 25
  
  I normally add Modelo, because I like the taste, but you can use your favorite one 🙂
  
Rafael Rosa

Dec 12

I make this dish with the Italian sausages and my family loves it.

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Jan 02
  
  Yummy, great idea!
  
Michael L.

Jan 18

Hi Pati,

Just made this recipe tonight for dinner – it was delicious! Really hit the spot for a winter evening’s dinner. Thank you very much for sharing your recipe.

Best,
Michael

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Jan 22
  
  Thanks to you for the lovely feedback Michael, so glad you guys liked this pasta 🙂
  
Suzie

Dec 03

I don’t cook with alcohol at all.Can I use water?Or whatever you suggest.

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Dec 28
  
  Of course, you can substitute with chicken or vegetable broth, enjoy this recipe Suzie!
  
ARMANDO ORTIZ

Aug 02

Hello Patis,
I’m going to try this recipe today 😋 these flavors look and sound great! and I have to make the Jalepeno cheese French bread 🥖

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Aug 05
  
  Hola Armando, did you like the Pasta?
  
Kenny

Jul 02

Do you use dry or fresh chili de Arbil?

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Jul 04
  
  For this, I used fresh Kenny 😉
  
Joseph

Jan 20

Hey there I was at San Fran Sesquitos Bay 40 years ago drove there in my Baja Bug no paved roads , I asked the fisherman if Mussels existed there , they called them the hoof of a mule and did not eat them because legend tells them they make you Loco. crazy, .so I dove for them in the back bay ,and prepared them almost how you did the clams ,,I called it Mussels Fra Diablo ,no pasta and a chunky sauce ,,I showed the head of the small camp pick up opened shell break off top shell dip back into sauce and eat he watched he finally tried one den two and all the fisherman watched ! Well he did not go Loco and smiled Tequila. Tequila they went and brought it out ,,All enjoyed and the party was on thanks for the memory your recipe brought Viva da Mussels

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Jan 21
  
  Awesome!
  
Mike H.

Nov 16

You are one of my new favorite chefs to watch. I am making this recipe tomorrow. Do you typically serve any sort of bread with it?

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Nov 18
  
  You can! Try my garlic bread: http://patijinich.com/pati_2020/jalapeno-garlic-cheesy-bread/
  
  1. Linda Seaman
    
    Jul 29
    
    Pati, this link, or rather the web page, is broken. I have accessed the chorizo and clam pasta page just fine, but all I can get, no matter how I try to access the bread recipe, is just the page that shows the picture of it, with no way I can see to access the actual recipe to try. Thanks so much, love your show!!
    
    1. Pati Jinich
      
      Aug 20
      
      Sorry that happened to you Linda, I just checked and both recipes are working just fine, but anyway here is the bread recipe for you 🙂 https://patijinich.com/jalapeno-garlic-cheesy-bread/
      
Patti

Sep 16

Thank you for sharing this recipe. It is delicious, and easy to make. It is nice and chunky, looks wonderful, and makes the house smell so good-you get hungry walking in the door. Thank you!

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Sep 24
  
  Oh the smell…I’m so glad you loved the recipe, Patti.
  
Tina

Jul 10

Do you use Mexican or Spanish chorizo

1. Pati Jinich
  
  Jul 10
  
  I use Mexican chorizo. Enjoy the pasta, Tina!
  
Teresa D

Feb 19

I substituted mussels for the clams….they r my favorite. My husband says this recipe is a “keeper”. It was delicious. This recipe is a bit much for the two of us, but my husband is more then willing to eat the leftovers. Lol

1. Pati
  
  Feb 20
  
  I’m so happy you guys loved it, Teresa.
  
Anonymous

Dec 29

Can I substitute habanero for the Chile de árbol? Not sure I can find those here in Rhode Island!

1. Pati
  
  Jan 04
  
  Sure! You can try either guajillo chiles or habaneros, or even a jalapeño…use your favorite chile to add a bit of tasty heat 🙂

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