The last of my grandmother’s wedding photos, this is her sister-in-law, Rose [Donroe] Valentino, in 1940. Rose learned how to cook from her Neapolitan mother, Margarite Donroe. She refers to this recipe as white clam sauce, to differentiate it from the tomato-based red version. Rose still lives in the New Haven area and is very spry at age 95.
White Clam Sauce
An old standard Christmas Eve recipe, Rose would use fresh cherrystone clams and serve them in their shells for a more festive presentation. This everyday version uses canned clams from the pantry.
3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
4 medium garlic cloves, minced
Pinch of red pepper flakes
2 small bottles of clam juice (8 fl. oz. each)
3 Tbsp. fresh parsley, minced
2 cans minced clams, drained (6 ½ oz. each)
Salt to taste
1 lb. angel hair pasta
Set a large pot of salted water to boil. Meanwhile, heat oil and sauté garlic until light brown (careful, as garlic burns fast). Add red pepper flakes, clam juice, and parsley. Cook for 15 minutes. Just before serving, add canned clams and let simmer together for 1 minute.
Cook angel hair pasta as directed. Before draining, save ¼ cup of the pasta water. Put pasta in bowl, add part of the clam sauce along with the reserved pasta water. Serve topped with additional clam sauce. Serves 8.
Rose [Donroe] Valentino
North Haven, Connecticut
1911 –
Next Recipe: Crescia
(Previous Recipe: Fried Artichokes)
I stumbled on your blog and love it. Love it. Love it. Mostly, I love the photos and stories that go along with the recipes. I'm not a chef and I don't even like white sauce, but I'm all about stories and old photos. My hat's off (and fork's up) to you.
I am SO linking to you on a post I'm putting together for thatsfit.com. And I will definitely be back here. Cheers!
Posted by: Grrrlfriend Jess | March 30, 2007 at 04:09 PM
I love vintage photos. I like clams too. Sometimes, canned clams remind me a little bit of pencil erasers.
Posted by: Mist 1 | March 30, 2007 at 10:35 PM
Tammy, I just tagged you for a wine meme, do it if you feel like it!
Posted by: ilva | March 31, 2007 at 03:54 AM
Ilva: That depends on how much wine I get to drink. The more, the better.
Mist1: Little known fact, canned clams erase calories. More room for dessert.
Grrrlfriend: Welcome. Loved your pedicure post (my hobbit feet should be so lucky). Thanks for the mention on thatsfit.com, which explains the unexpected increase in my numbers!
Posted by: Tammy | March 31, 2007 at 09:34 AM
I could eat linguine & clam sauce 5 nights a week. True story.
My family's recipe is a lil different but generally the same.. DELICIOUS. With a Capital DE and a lil licious. :D
Posted by: Lisa | March 31, 2007 at 10:48 PM
I have loved your wedding photos, thanks for sharing them. It makes me want to dig out some old photos my self!
Posted by: sandi @ the whistlestop cafe | April 01, 2007 at 12:56 PM
Sandi, by all means. The more, the merrier.
Lisa, my dad says he hates clams. Kind of like how he hates anchovies. So I made this and he totally scarfed it. Did I mention he's crazy?
Posted by: Tammy | April 02, 2007 at 01:43 PM