Mothers Day Favorite

Moms Favorite Pasta

My Mom Says i Dont Cook For Her!

This past Mother’s Day, I embarked on a heartfelt journey to make my mom feel truly special. I decided to visit her and cook her favorite meal. After asking her what she wanted, she chose linguine and clams, along with a juicy steak. Cooking together turned out to be a delightful and memorable experience. 

The secret ingredient? A frozen pepper from her freezer, which added just the right amount of spice to elevate our dishes. This recipe is so simple that anyone can make it, perfect for celebrating your mom or any special occasion. 

The key to this dish is the clams; they add a sweet and briny flavor to the sauce that is truly unmatched. One important step is purging the clams to remove any sand. Simply run them under water with salt or cornmeal to ensure they are clean and sandy-free.

While you can make your own homemade pasta, we kept it simple for everyone at home. Another tip is to cook your pasta inside the sauce. This allows the noodles to absorb all the delicious flavors, creating a harmonious dish. 

To finish the dish, slowly add olive oil off the heat. This helps to emulsify the sauce and coat the noodles evenly, along with the added flavors from herbs, lemon zest, salt, and a touch of spicy pepper. Let the pepper infuse its essence into the dish before serving.

You can watch the video of my cooking experience with my mom, which was filled with love and laughter. The full recipe is also available for you to recreate this dish at home. May this recipe bring as much joy to your family as it did to mine. 

The Recipe

Ingredients:

• 200g spaghetti noodles

• 250g cleaned clams

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1/4 cup white wine (optional)

• Juice of half a lemon

• Zest of half a lemon

• Handful of frozen peppers (bell peppers work well)

• Salt, to taste

• Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Cook Spaghetti: Fill a large pot with water and add a pinch of salt. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the spaghetti noodles and cook according to the package instructions until al dente (usually about 8-10 minutes). Once cooked, drain the spaghetti and set aside.

2. Prepare Clams: While the spaghetti is cooking, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Be careful not to let it burn!

3. Add Clams: Add the cleaned clams to the skillet with the garlic. Pour in the white wine (if using) and cover the skillet with a lid. Let the clams cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until they open up. Discard any clams that don't open.

4. Season: Once the clams have opened, add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet with the clams. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the spaghetti. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes, lemon zest, and frozen peppers. Squeeze the lemon juice over everything. Gently toss everything together to combine.

5. Serve: Transfer the spaghetti and clams to serving plates. Garnish with chopped parsley for a pop of color and extra flavor. Serve immediately and enjoy your delicious meal!

With warm regards,

Sakari Smithwick

Chef & Founder, Noble Promise Newsletter