1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel, divided
3/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1 1/3 cups Sauvignon Blanc or other non-oaky white wine
2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 canned anchovy fillets, minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley, divided
Coarse kosher salt
4 dozen small clams (such as littleneck), scrubbed
12 ounces linguine
Lemon wedges (for garnish)
Heat olive oil in small deep saucepan over medium-low heat. Add garlic, 3/4 teaspoon lemon peel, and crushed red pepper. Sauté until garlic is soft, about 3 minutes. Add wine, increase heat, and boil until mixture is reduced to 1 cup, about 6 minutes. Remove sauce from heat; mix in lemon juice, anchovies, 1 tablespoon parsley, and remaining 3/4 teaspoon lemon peel. Season with coarse salt.
*Sauce can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm before using.
Prepare barbecue (high heat). Arrange clams on grill rack. Cover grill. Cook clams 5 minutes. Uncover and cook without turning until clams open. Transfer to rimmed baking sheet as they open, retaining juices in shells, about 5 minutes longer (discard any clams that do not open).
Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain pasta and divide among 4 large shallow bowls.
Arrange 12 clams in shells with juices on pasta in each bowl. Spoon sauce over. Garnish with lemon wedges and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon parsley.
*This is a great white clam sauce recipe. So fresh tasting and lite, yet plenty hearty. The only thing I changed was: instead of the wine alone, I used about a cup of wine and 1/3 cup clam juice from a can of chopped clams for the reduction and added the clams themselves at the end with the anchovy etc. Crusty bread and a Caesar salad were great sides.
Serves: 4