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Spaghetti topped with a clam and a mussel on a wooden plate.

Shellfish Spaghetti with Pesto Toasted Bread Crumbs

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  • Author: Jessie
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 4-6 1x
  • Category: Pasta
  • Cuisine: Italian-American

Description

This shellfish spaghetti is packed with flavor and easy to make - perfect for date night!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb. spaghetti
  • 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 large yellow onion, diced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1.5 cups dry white wine (I used chardonnay)
  • 3/4 cup basil pesto, divided
  • 1 lb. clams, cleaned
  • 1 lb. mussels, cleaned
  • 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

Instructions

For the Pasta and Sauce:

  1. Cook spaghetti in very salty water until al dente.
  2. While spaghetti cooks, prepare the sauce. Heat oil in a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid over medium-high heat. Add garlic and onion and sauté until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes.
  3. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Add white wine and pesto to saucepan and stir to combine.
  5. Add clams and mussels to saucepan and cover with the lid. Let steam until all the clams and mussels have opened, about 10-15 minutes. If there are any clams or mussels that refused to open, toss them out.

For the Breadcrumbs:

  1. While shellfish cook, prepare the breadcrumbs. Mix panko breadcrumbs with remaining pesto in a small bowl. Transfer to a small skillet over medium heat and toast until breadcrumbs are just browned, about 5 minutes.

To assemble:

  1. Drain al dente spaghetti and set aside.
  2. When shellfish have opened, remove lid and turn off the heat. Toss spaghetti with shellfish and sauce mixture until evenly coated.
  3. Top spaghetti with pesto breadcrumbs and serve immediately.

Notes

This recipe was great with clams and mussels, but you could swap in whatever shellfish you've got on hand! I think the sauce and pasta would also be great with lobster and/or shrimp.