Bucatini with Fresh Corn and Clams

Bucatini with Fresh Corn and Clams is one of my favorite pasta recipes to eat in the summer, even though we make it all year long!

Do you cook a lot with clams? Try our classic Steamers in Beer (with lots of beer on the side) or these Clams Casino Tarts for appetizers!

pasta with fresh corn and clams in a bowl

This has definitely become a family favorite. Bucatini with Fresh Corn and Clams is sort of like a take on linguine with clam sauce, but in this version there’s just a light sauce made with wine, a little pasta water from cooking the pasta and butter.

How To Clean Sand Out Of Clams

Some people get intimidated by making clams at home and I’m here to tell you, it couldn’t be easier! All you need to do is make sure and wash the clams really well and follow these few steps. Make sure to discard any clams that have a broken shell and any clams that are open before you start. You can tap on an open clam a few times to see if it closes…give it a couple of tries and if it stays open throw it away.

First wash the clams on the outside with a clean scrub brush, the one that you use to clean your potatoes or scrub your vegetables will work fine. After the clams are scrubbed on the outside, we need to clean them on the inside! Place the clams in a large bowl of cold water and let them soak for 20 minutes. You can add salt or cornmeal to the bowl to help make the clams purge the sand inside.

After 20 minutes, left the clams out of the bowl (don’t dump the bowl out) and run them under water again, cleaning any sand off on the outside of the shells. Place the clams in another, clean bowl of water (no salt or cornmeal this time) and let them sit another 20 minutes. Again, life the clams out o the bowl and ash them off under cold water.

Now your clams are ready to go!

corn on the cob in a pot with clams

Ingredients You Need To Make This Pasta Recipe

Littleneck Clams: Those little, sweet clams that you see at your seafood counter are perfect for this recipe!

Fresh Corn on the Cob: If you don’t have fresh available, use frozen corn on the cob from the grocery store.

Bucatini: Any long noodle will work but we like bucatini for its fun, hollow center. The hollow center traps some of the flavors inside making it taste even better.

Garlic: Lots of fresh garlic please. Don’t use the jarred stuff here, it won’t have enough flavor for this simple sauce.

White Wine: Use your favorite dry white wine. If you’re not a wine drinker, you can grab a small (airplane size) bottle at the liquor store or substitute chicken broth.

Chicken Broth: Use the best quality you can find, a good homemade stock would be best but we use store bought all the time. But store bought broth and stock very greatly in flavor so test a few out and find the best tasting one!

Bucatini with Fresh Corn and Clams being served in a bowl

How Do I Make This Bucatini Recipe?

  1. Start by cooking to bucatini, about a minute or so shy of the package directions. The pasta will cook for a couple of minutes later in the sauce. Drain the pasta and set aside.
  2. Add the butter to the same pot, add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Pour the wine into the pot carefully and reduce for 1 minute. Add the chicken broth, corn cobs, corn kernels, cleaned clams, salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
  3. Cover the pot to steam the clams for about 7-8 minutes. If any clams haven’t opened, try covering and cooking the clams for another 2-3 minutes. Remove any clams that haven’t opened and discard.
  4. Remove the corn cobs and discard. Add the cooked pasta and toss together with the clams and corn kernels. If you like your pasta to have more sauce, you can add reserved water from cooking the pasta. Taste for seasonings and serve.

Bucatini with Fresh Corn and Clams in a serving bowl

I’m telling you this pasta dinner is like the ultimate summer time meal. A glass of wine or a few cold beers (in my case) and you’re there. Even in the winter we make this using frozen corn and it still tastes amazing.

To add even more flavor, after the corn cobs have steamed in the pot, scrape them down with a butter knife right into the pot. The sauce will be infused with fresh corn flavor!

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pasta recipe with fresh corn and clams in a bowl

Bucatini with Fresh Corn and Clams

  • Author: Dan
  • Prep Time: 40 minutes (for soaking the clams)
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 6 Servings 1x

This light and fresh pasta recipe is a favorite of ours when fresh corn is in season. If you don’t have fresh corn on the cob available, use frozen corn on the cob from the store.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 pound bucatini (or any long pasta like spaghetti or linguine)
  • 1 pound littleneck clams, *Follow the cleaning directions in the notes
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 2 corn cobs, kernels removed and cobs reserved
  • 4 tablespoons of butter
  • 3/4 cup dry white wine
  • 1/3 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (plus more to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh black pepper (plus more to taste)
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley
  • Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water a couple minutes short of the cooking time on the package.
  2. When the pasta is done, reserve a cup of the water and then drain.
  3. In the same pot, add the butter over medium-low heat, then add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute, stirring so it doesn’t burn, then add in the corn kernels and cobs, the clams (carefully so the shells don’t break), wine, chicken broth, salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
  4. Turn the heat down to a simmer and cover the pot to steam the clams, about 8-10 minutes. If all the clams aren’t opened, stir and cover for another minute or two, then discard any clams that haven’t opened.
  5. Remove the cobs from the pot (scraping them down for more corn flavor – see note*)  add the cooked bucatini and stir to coat the pasta in the sauce. Taste and more seasoning if needed. If you like more sauce on your pasta you can add a little of the reserved starchy pasta water, otherwise you can discard the reserved water. Add the crushed red pepper flakes if using.
  6. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve. Although it’s not traditional for seafood and pasta, we like to add grated parmesan cheese too!

Recipe Notes

Washing the Clams: First wash the clams on the outside with a clean scrub brush, the one that you use to clean your potatoes or scrub your vegetables will work fine. After the clams are scrubbed on the outside, we need to clean them on the inside! Place the clams in a large bowl of cold water and let them soak for 20 minutes. You can add salt or cornmeal to the bowl to help make the clams purge the sand inside.

After 20 minutes, left the clams out of the bowl (don’t dump the bowl out) and run them under water again, cleaning any sand off on the outside of the shells. Place the clams in another, clean bowl of water (no salt or cornmeal this time) and let them sit another 20 minutes. Again, life the clams out o the bowl and ash them off under cold water.

To add even more flavor to the sauce: after the corn cobs have steamed in the pot, scrape them down with a butter knife right into the pot. The sauce will be infused with fresh corn flavor!

  • Category: DInner
  • Method: Stove top
  • Cuisine: American

 

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12 Responses
  1. Lauren Gaskill | Making Life Sweet

    I haven’t had clams in forever, but with a dish like this I think that’s about to change!

    1. Dan

      If you’re using the TJ clams, follow the package instructions to cook (microwave 5 minutes) and just skip the steam time for the clams in the recipe. Just add in the TJ cooked clams with the pasta and stir. We love everything from there too!

  2. Michele @ Bacon Fatte

    Wow, does this sound good!! We’re big seafood fans in our house, but haven’t yet tries TJ’s clams. We’ll have to and try them with this recipe very soon!

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