Linguine with Fake Clams

POSTED: 3:32 pm HST November 8, 2005
UPDATED: 11:01 am HST November 9, 2005

I substituted sliced artichoke hearts and zucchini for clams. On TV Ruby and I made half of this recipe, enough for 2 people.

Ingredients:

1 medium red onion

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon hot red pepper flakes

10 pieces of quartered artichoke hearts, rinsed and sliced

1 medium zucchini, sliced into thin half moons

1 cup canned plum tomatoes, roughly chopped with their juices

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 pound linguine

1/2 cup finely chopped Italian parsley leaves

Instructions:

Chop red onion into medium dice and toss into a hot 14 to 16-inch saucepan with oil. Add the garlic, chili flakes, zucchini, artichoke hearts, and cook for a few minutes.

Add tomatoes and white wine. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until zucchini is tender.

Bring 8 quarts of water to a boil in large pasta pot and add 3 tablespoons of salt.

Meanwhile, drop the pasta in the salted water and cook according to the package directions, to 1 minute short of al dente. It should still be quite firm. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta in a colander and pour immediately into the saucepan with the potato mixture.

Toss the pasta and cook over high heat for 45 seconds. Stir in the parsley, add some of the reserved water if the pasta seems too dry, and serve immediately.