Little Neck Clams in Wine and Garlic Broth

Little Neck Clams in Wine and Garlic Broth are easily steamed in minutes to create this amazing dish.  If you love seafood dishes then you’ll love this recipe for little neck clams steamed in white wine and garlic broth. Tender little neck clams cooked in a delicious broth can be served alone or with your favorite linguine or spaghetti makes a fabulous dish!

 

We enjoy making little neck clams in wine and garlic broth often, especially during Lent, the warmer months, and of course, on Christmas Eve when we make our seven different seafood dishes, known as the Feast of Seven Fishes.

Our recipe for seafood salad, along with our perfect mussels provencale are some of the most popular recipes and they’re always served as a seafood appetizer.

Then, at times it’s usually followed by spaghetti with clams, or our easy shrimp dinner as the main course when serving a seafood dinner.

 

Little Neck Clams made in wine and garlic broth are literally SO easy to make.  

It only takes 10 minutes to cook and only 6 ingredients are needed for this recipe, littleneck clams, olive oil, garlic, white wine, crushed red pepper, and fresh parsley.

While the clams are simmering in the garlic and wine broth, they will begin to open, releasing their natural juices.

The broth from this recipe is SO flavorful, you may even want to place a spoon next to each plate and some bread to soak up that amazing broth!

In our house, this dish is called “Spaghetti Alle Vongole,” dating back to when my mother hosted our family’s Christmas Eve celebration for years.  Now the tradition continues at our home, and we continue to serve them every year as the first course.

Littleneck clams are not expensive to buy these days. They cost around $3.00 to $4.00 per dozen.

I found these clams at Whole Foods.

They will need to stay on the ice and in an open bag to allow them to breathe; until you are ready to cook them.

Little Neck Clams are very budget-friendly.

It’s cheaper to make little neck clams with garlic and wine broth at home rather than ordering at the restaurant.

Spaghetti with clams in a restaurant normally charges anywhere from $22.00 to $32.00 dollars per dish. (Yikes!)   

It’s…definitely cost-effective to make them at home.

Best of all, this recipe will cost anywhere from $12.00 to $15.00 dollars to make at home, and it will serve 4 to 5 people.

As always, prices will vary, depending on where you live and the season.  And usually, their cost goes up during the holidays (but of course!).

Little Neck Clams in wine and garlic broth is a popular staple dish and it’s enjoyed throughout the year.

A FUN FACT:

• Like many traditional Italian seafood dishes, clams alone (or served with spaghetti) became a very popular dish throughout Southern Italy simply because clams were found to be in abundance along the Italian coast.

• And therefore, “vongole” (aka: means “clams” in Italian) became a staple dish in Italy throughout the year, and not just limited to the Christmas holiday.

Once you make this delicious seafood dish, you’ll be amazed at how easy it was, and  I’m certain, that the next time you make it, you won’t even have to refer to the recipe.

 

Cook’s Notes and Tips for Success…

• As soon as you get home, open the bag of clams and allow the clams to “breathe”…. or they will die. Clams need to breathe and they need to stay on the ice keep them chilled in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook them.

• If the clams start to open, run them under cold water and they will close up immediately.  If you encounter any clams that do not close, discard those.

• If you are planning to make these littleneck clams for a large crowd, you will need to buy more and it’s a good idea to add in some clam juice (about 4 to 8-ounce bottles) to make more broth, especially for medium-size or large-size clams.

• How Many Clams to Purchase?  We like to buy at least 1 dozen per person, which is about 1 pound for 12 clams.  If they are the smaller ones, known as New Zealand Clams, then you can get 2 dozen per person, which is 24 little clams per person.

• Also, you can purchase a small bottle of clam juice from your local seafood market, where you get the clams. 

• I used Bumble Bee All Natural Clam Juice.  It’s good to have the clam juice on hand, in case you need more broth – you can add in 1/4 cup or more.

• Keep in mind, while cooking the clams, if you encounter any ones not opening, fish those out and discard them.

Little Neck Clams in Wine and Garlic Broth are gently steamed in a delicious broth made with garlic, white wine, crushed red pepper, and fresh parsley.

Altogether, the flavors of wine, garlic, and natural clam juices make this dish so sensational! 

Don’t forget the crushed red pepper.  The smallest ingredient will always give any dish a pop!

Also remember, for those who prefer no spaghetti, serve these clams along with a leafy green salad on the side and a basket of crusty bread to dip into the broth – the Italian way!

This recipe for Little Neck Clams in Wine and Garlic Broth is truly an all-star seafood dish for dinner. You’ll have to try it!

Buon Appetite!

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Finally, enjoy these seafood dishes too!  

• Spaghetti with Lobster Tails Sauce
• Easy Italian Shrimp Salad
• Pan-Seared Mahi Mahi
• Filet of Sole Francese
• Pasta with Smoked Salmon in a Creamy Sauce
• Spaghetti with Shrimp Marinara
• Easy Baked Shrimp Scampi Dinner
• Perfect Mussels Provencale
• Mixed Seafood Stew 
• How to Clean and Prepare Lobster Tails

 

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Happy Cooking!  🙂

Thanks for stopping by!

xo Anna and Liz