spaghetti with clams in a spicy sausage tomato sauce

• 4 hot Italian sausage, casing removed

• 12-14 littleneck clams

• 1 medium onion, sliced

• 5 cloves garlic, rough chop

• 14 oz can of whole tomatoes, hand crushed (I used baby Romas)

• 1 cup dry white wine, such as Pinto Grigio

• 2 Tablespoons salted butter

• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

• 4 sprigs fresh basil

• Salt & pepper, tt

• EVOO

• 1/2 pound spaghetti

Add about 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil to a pan on medium heat. Crumble sausage out of the casing into small pieces & allow to cook until almost completely cooked through.

Add the onion & cook for about 5 minutes or until translucent. Add the crushed red pepper & season with s+p. Add the garlic & allow to cook for about 2 minutes or until fragrant. Add the clams into the pan & then add the white wine & simmer for 2 minutes.

After the wine has reduced a bit, add the butter & tomatoes. Cover the pan. Allow the clams to cook for about 5-10 minutes on medium heat. When ready the clams should have opened up & sauce should have thickened a bit. Discard any clams that have not opened.

Cook your pasta according to packaged directions. To serve mix the clams & sauce with the pasta until coated. Garnish with some fresh basil, if desired. Enjoy :)

watch recipe video here