Red Or White Clam Sauce Pasta

You're referring to a classic Italian-American dish commonly found in restaurants across the United States!

The dish you're referring to is likely "Linguine with Clam Sauce" or "Clams Linguine" on menus. It's a popular seafood pasta dish that typically features linguine pasta tossed in a creamy white sauce or a light, briny red sauce, both of which are flavored with freshly shucked clams.

Let's dive into the two common variations:

White Clam Sauce Pasta (Linguine with White Clam Sauce)

Freshly shucked clams

Garlic

Onions

White wine

Heavy cream or half-and-half

Butter

Fresh parsley or basil

Red Clam Sauce Pasta (Linguine with Red Clam Sauce)

Freshly shucked clams

Garlic

Onions

Crushed tomatoes or tomato puree

Olive oil

White wine (optional)

Fresh basil

Some restaurants might offer variations, such as adding diced bell peppers or mushrooms to the sauce. Others might use different types of clams, like cherrystone or littleneck clams.

When you order this dish at a restaurant, you can ask for specific preferences, such as:

Now, go ahead and give it a try!