If you’re a fan of seafood and Italian cuisine, you’ve probably heard of the famous Spaghetti Factory clam sauce. This delicious dish is a favorite among many pasta lovers, but have you ever wondered how to recreate it at home?
Here, I’ll share the Spaghetti Factory Clam Sauce recipe so you can recreate this classic dish in the comfort of your own home. I’ll walk you through the ingredients and step-by-step instructions, as well as provide some helpful tips and variations to make it your own. So grab your apron and get ready to cook up a delicious bowl of clams and spaghetti sauce.
Essential Ingredients Of Spaghetti Factory Clam Sauce
To make factory clam sauce, you will need some essential ingredients.
Clams
Clams are the star ingredients of this spaghetti factory clam sauce. Adding clams to Spaghetti Factory clam sauce gives it a distinctive flavor and a delicious texture. The shellfish’s tender meat and salty taste pair beautifully with the sauce’s other ingredients.
I prefer to use canned clams in my spaghetti factory recipes. I cooked the pasta directly in the sauce or topped it with a garnish. Furthermore, clams provide a variety of health benefits, including being a good source of protein, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Butter
It adds a rich and creamy flavor to the sauce, enhancing its overall taste. Also, it creates a smooth and velvety texture by binding the ingredients together. Upon melting, butter coats the clams and other ingredients, infusing them with its delicious flavor. In this recipe, I prefer to use unsalted butter.
Garlic
Garlic is a key component in giving the sauce its distinctive flavor and aroma. Clams are sweet and savory, so it complements the sweetness with a little spice.
The health benefits of garlic also include boosting the immune system and reducing blood pressure. You must finely chop or mince the garlic when preparing the sauce to release its full flavor.
Onion
One of the essential ingredients of clams and spaghetti sauce is onion. The onion enhances the taste of the sauce by adding a delicious flavor and aroma. The subtle sweetness also balances out clams’ savory flavors.
Typically, onions are finely chopped or minced and sautéed in butter until translucent and fragrant. By doing this, the onions will release their natural flavors, creating a rich sauce base.
Stalks Celery
One of the essential ingredients of the old spaghetti recipe is stalks of celery. The celery adds a refreshing crunch and subtle flavor to the sauce, which enhances its overall taste and texture. The celery softens slightly when cooked while still maintaining a pleasant crispness.
A mild earthy note and a hint of sweetness complement the briny flavor of the clams. A seafood lover will enjoy this dish due to its depth and balance provided by celery in the sauce.
Flour
In Spaghetti Factory Clam Sauce, flour thickens the sauce and gives it a smooth, creamy texture. To make the sauce, flour is typically combined with butter or oil to create a roux. A roux serves as the sauce’s base.
Flour absorbs liquids in the sauce, giving it a velvety texture. The nut flavor enhances the overall flavor of the dish. I prefer to use all-purpose flour for my spaghetti factory clam sauce recipe.
Ground Thyme
It enhances the overall taste and aroma of the sauce with its unique and savory flavor. With its earthy and slightly minty notes, ground thyme pairs perfectly with salty clams. Its rich and satisfying flavor also adds depth and complexity to the sauce.
Half-and-Half
Half-and-half is an essential ingredient in the Spaghetti Factory Clam Sauce. In this creamy sauce, whole milk and light cream are equal parts and give it richness and depth.
With it, the salty flavor of the clams is balanced and the texture is smooth and velvety. Using the Half-and-Half as a base allows other ingredients to meld together to create a harmony of flavors.
Salt
In Spaghetti Factory clam sauce, salt enhances the flavor and brings out clams’ natural taste. In many seafood recipes, salt helps balance the flavors of the dish.
The salty taste complements the sweetness of the clams. To ensure a harmonious flavor balance in spaghetti with clam sauce, it is essential to season the dish with salt.
How To Make Spaghetti Factory Clam Sauce?
Now, I will explain the simple recipe spaghetti with clam sauce:
- Combine butter, garlic, onion, and celery in a saucepan.
- Cook over medium-low heat until tender but not browned.
- Make a roux by adding flour and combining.
- Using a strainer, drain the clams and save the juice.
- Add the clam juice, half-and-half, thyme, and salt to a separate pot.
- You want to heat it until it’s slightly under boiling.
- Stir into the roux and simmer until thickened.
- Gently swirl the sauce to distribute the clams.
- Serve with Spaghetti.
Spaghetti Factory Clam Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 oz Clams 2 Canned
- 4 Tablespoon Butter
- 3-4 Cloves Garlic Medium size
- 1 Onion large
- 3 Stalks Celery
- 4 Tablespoon Flour
- 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Thyme
- 1.5 Quart Half-and-Half
- 2 Teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon White paper Optional
- 1 teaspoon Parsley Optional
Instructions
- Put the butter, onion, celery, and garlic in a medium-sized pot. Keep cooking on medium-low heat until the onion is transparent.
- To make a roux, add the flour and mix it in.
- Take the juice from the clams and set it aside. Clean the clams. Make all of the pieces about the same size by giving them a rough chop
- Put the clam juice, half-and-half, ground thyme, and salt in a different pot
- Bring to a boil—just barely
- Bring the hot liquid into the roux and stir it in. Cook until the sauce gets thick
- Carefully stir the clams into the sauce after adding them
- Please put it on top of cooked spaghetti all warm
Notes
Nutrition
Variation On Spaghetti Factory Clam Sauce
There are plenty of variations you can try on the classic spaghetti with clam sauce:
- You can add a touch of spice by incorporating red pepper flakes or chili powder. Adding this can give the dish an extra kick and depth of flavor.
- You can also use different types of clams, such as littlenecks or Manila clams, which will enhance the taste and texture.
- To enhance the overall flavor profile, you may also add herbs such as parsley, basil, or oregano.
- You can use different types of pasta, such as fettuccine or penne, instead of linguine.
It does not matter whether you prefer a traditional approach or want to experiment with your ingredients, creating a spaghetti dish with clam sauce is incredibly versatile.
How To Thicken Clam Sauce?
If your clam sauce becomes a very liquid texture, you can add a small amount of cornstarch. It will help you to thicken your clam sauce.
Another way is to add a minimal amount of all-purpose flour. It also soaks the extra water from your sauce and gives a thick texture.
Final Words
Making your own spaghetti factory clam sauce at home is a delicious and rewarding experience. By following this recipe, you can recreate the flavors of your favorite restaurant right in your own kitchen.
The combination of fresh clams, garlic, and herbs creates a rich and flavorful sauce that pairs perfectly with al dente spaghetti. So why wait? Gather the ingredients and get cooking! Enjoy the taste of the spaghetti factory in the comfort of your own home.
