Spaghetti with clams and olives

Author: Niki Bezzant - Founding Editor

Photographer: Melanie Jenkins

Traditionally, the classic combination of clams and pasta is made with linguine. In this recipe, we've used spaghetti that works just as well. The addition of olives adds a brininess that complements the high in iron shellfish.

Serves: 2

Time to make: 20 mins

Ingredients

More weights & measures

130g dried spaghetti
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
3 ½ tablespoons olive oil
2 cups rocketarugulaX leaves
1 clove garlic, chopped
3 large tomatoes, chopped
¼ cup white wine
1 teaspoon dried chilli flakes, plus extra to serve
350g cockles or clams, scrubbed – about 15 cockles
3 cups spinach leaves
½ cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon capers
¼ cup black olives, chopped
juice of 1 lemon
black pepper

Instructions

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In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook spaghetti until al dente – about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water.
While pasta is cooking, in a bowl combine vinegar and ½ tablespoon of the oil. Add rocket and avocado and toss to coat.
In a large pot, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of the remaining oil over medium. Add garlic and tomatoes and stir. Add wine, chilli flakes, cockles and spinach and cook, covered, for 4-5 minutes until clams have opened. Discard any that haven’t opened. Remove pan from heat.
Add spaghetti to cockles and sauce, along with parsley, capers and olives. Add a little pasta water, if needed, to make more sauce. Stir to combine.
Serve pasta with salad on the side, drizzled with remaining oil and lemon juice and sprinkled with extra chilli flakes and black pepper.

Variations

Make it gluten free: Use gluten-free spaghetti.

Make it low FODMAP: Use gluten-free spaghetti that doesn’t contain soy flour, besan/chickpea/gram, lentil or lupin flours.

HFG tip

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Nutrition Info (per serve)

Calories 589 cal

Kilojoules 2460 kJ

Protein 16 g

Total fat 32 g

Saturated fat 5 g

Carbohydrates 50 g

Sugar 8 g

Dietary fibre 9 g

Sodium 790 mg

Calcium 230 mg

Iron 6.5 mg

Note: This nutrition analysis is a guide only. Nutrition composition will vary depending on the exact ingredients used. See our guides on your optimal daily nutrition intake, and supermarket shopping.