RECIPE FOR CLAMS RECIPES

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring to a boil 6 quarts of salted water. Add pasta, stirring constantly in the beginning to prevent it from sticking together. Cook until al dente, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large saute pan. When almost smoking, add shallots and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the clams and wine. Cover and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes or until most clams have opened.
• Add 2 tablespoons chopped parsley. Whisk in butter to thicken sauce slightly.
• Drain pasta in a colander. Do not rinse pasta with water - this will remove the pasta's natural starches. Place pasta into the clam saute pan and mix thoroughly. Check seasoning.
• Pour pasta into large serving bowl. Zest lemon over the dish, being carefull not to zest the white part of the lemon, which is bitter. Garnish with remaining parsley. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium. Make the foil packets: Tear off twenty 20-inch-long pieces of heavy-duty foil. For each packet, stack 2 sheets of foil and pull up the edges to form a bowl shape; put about 10 clams in each packet.
• Divide the shallots, garlic and parsley among the packets. Drizzle each with about 3 tablespoons wine and top with 2 tablespoons butter; season with salt and pepper. Gather the edges of the foil at the top and crimp to seal.
• Place the packets on the grill and cook 10 to 12 minutes, or until the clams open. (Discard any unopened clams.) Serve straight from the packet; garnish with thyme.