shellfish Archives - Amsterdam Flavours

Homemade Pasta with Shellfish

This is so indulgent and special that we've decided to give a large recipe as it should be enjoyed with special people.

Serves 8

Ingredients
Pasta
500g pasta flour, typo ‘00’
5 eggs
40ml olive oil
pinch of salt

Shellfish
2 x 450g lobsters, cooked for 7 minutes
500g vongole or clams
8 scallops or other shellfish available
8 razor clams
1 tablespoon fresh flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
6 fresh basil leaves, finely shredded

Sellfish sauce
45ml olive oil
30g butter
1 onion, finely diced
1 stick celery, trimmed and finely chopped
1 small carrot, peeled and finely chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
30g flour
1 tablespoon tomato puree
the pounded shells form the lobster
60ml brandy
300ml chicken or fish stock (or a shellfish stock if you have)
salt and pepper
a little cream, to finish

Method
Put the flour, along with the salt in a food processor. Add the olive oil and eggs and pulse until it resembles breadcrumbs. Remove from the machine and knead to a dough. Allow to rest under an up-turned bowl for about 30 minutes. Roll through a pasta machine, until lovely and thin and cut into tagliatelle. Leave to air-dry on a lightly floured surface.

Prepare the lobster by removing the meat from the tail and claws and finely slice, ready to top the final dish. Set away in the fridge to keep cool. Save the shells for the sauce.

To make the sauce, heat the olive oil and butter in a saucepan. Add the onion, celery, carrot and garlic and cook over a low heat for about 10 minutes until soft. Stir in the tomato puree and allow to fry for a couple minutes. Then add the flour and pounded lobster shells and cook for a further 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

Flambé with the brandy. Once the flame has subsided, add the stock and allow to reduce to a coating consistency. Pass through a fine sieve and season to taste. Reheat the sauce gently, adding a little cream.

Grill the razor clams for a couple of minutes. Toss with olive oil. Steam the clams open in white wine for about 3 minutes. The juices can be strained into the shellfish sauce for added flavour.

Season the scallops with salt and pepper and pan-fry in a hot non-stick pan with a little olive oil for 1½ minutes per side until beautifully coloured and still slightly rare in the middle.

Meanwhile, bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Add the tagliatelle. Once the it rises to the surface, cook for 1 more minute then drain and mix with the shellfish sauce.

Serve the pasta in bowls, topped with some lobster meat, a couple of clams, a razor clam and a seared scallop. Sprinkle with the parsley and basil and serve immediately.

We, the Amsterdam Flavours chefs, hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you have any questions on how to prepare it or just want to send us your feedback, you can reach us here Contact Amsterdam Flavours

by Bernadette Evers

Spaghetti Vongole

Serves 4

Ingredients
400 g spaghetti
1 kg vongole or clams
1 red chilli pepper
3 cloves garlic
1 bunch parsley
olive oil
120 ml white wine
salt and ground black pepper

Method
Place the vongole in a bowl of cold water to soak. Bring a pot of salted water to the boil for the pasta. Remove the seeds from the chilli and chop finely together with the garlic.

Place the pasta in the pot of boiling water and cook for about 10-12 minutes until al dente.

In the meantime, begin with the sauce. Drain the water from the vongole. Heat a pan with 4 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the chilli and garlic and fry for 1 minute, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the vongole and white wine. Mix well, bring to a boil and cover the pan with a lid. Cook the vongole for about 3-5 minutes until they have all opened, shaking the pan every so often.

Finely chop the parsley and stir through the vongole. Season with salt and pepper. Drain the spaghetti and combine with the vongole. Divide between 4 plates and finish with a good drizzle of olive oil.

by Bernadette Evers