Creamy Clam Sauce Over Angel Hair Pasta

Recently, while browsing Fresh Market in Savannah, I came across two products that just lit me up with a smile, Olive oil flavored with Lime, and Angel hair pasta nests.


I thought, mmmmm.... using those two ingredients in a recipe would be so good! I wanted to use a sauce that was creamy, first thinking alfredo, or creamy parm, but ultimately decided up on a creamy clam sauce.

Now, even before I started, I knew cooking the angel hair pasta nests would be tricky. I kept puzzling over how it would cook without falling apart, as I envisioned it blooming and expanding as it cooked in the boiling water. Umm... well, yep, it did bloom and fall apart, and ended up more like a mess rather than a nest. Normal angel hair pasta, except with some clumps here and there. So that was that. The pasta was still good, don't get me wrong, but the outer edges that bloomed cooked faster than the inside. I think next time I cook it, I'll put it in a smaller pot so that it doesn't have much room to float around.

All in all, this was very delicious! DS, having watched one too many Top Chef episodes with me, said, "mom, I think this dish deserves 4 stars". LOL! I asked him why just 4 and he said, "because you didn't make dessert". Well there you have it! I'm a proud mama of a budding food critic.

The other day he asked me if food critics make a lot of money, LOL.

1 Tbsp Olive oil (flavored with lime, or just add 1 Tsp of lime juice to the oil)
2 Shallots, chopped finely
2 Garlic cloves, minced
2 6.5oz Cans Chopped Clams in clam juice, undrained
1/2 C Half and Half (fat free)
2 Tbsp Butter, unsalted + 1 Tbsp flour (make a paste w/flour and butter)
1/4 Tsp Garlic powder
1/4 Tsp Onion powder
1 Tsp Parsley flakes
Salt & Freshly ground pepper to taste
1/3 C Freshly grated pecorino romano or parmesan cheese

Heat oil over med-high in a pan. Add garlic and shallots, saute until soft. Add in paste made from flour and butter, then add in clams w/clam juice and half and half. Season, then grate in cheese. Continue to stir until desired thickness is reached. Meanwhile cook your pasta according to package directions. Serve sauce over pasta.