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Clam Lasagne

17/11/2023

Clam lasagne is a rich and flavorful dish that combines egg pasta with clams, which are shellfish similar to vongole, but larger and sturdier. This dish can be considered a sea reinterpretation of the classic Bolognese lasagne.

Ingredients

  • 250g of egg lasagne (fresh or dried)
  • 500g of clams
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 250ml of dry white wine
  • 300ml of béchamel sauce
  • Chopped fresh parsley to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Grated Parmesan cheese to taste

Preparation

  1. Clean the clams by keeping them in cold salted water for a couple of hours and then rinse them thoroughly under running water. This will help remove the sand inside.
  2. In a large pan, sauté the crushed garlic cloves in a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Add the cleaned clams and let them open over high heat.
  3. Deglaze with white wine and let the alcohol evaporate. Once all the clams have opened, remove the shells and set aside the filtered cooking liquid.
  4. Dice the clam meat and put it back into the cooking liquid. Add chopped parsley, salt, and pepper to taste and let it flavor for a few minutes.
  5. Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the lasagne as indicated on the package, but draining al dente (a couple of minutes less than the recommended time).
  6. Prepare a slightly fluid béchamel sauce. In a saucepan, melt a knob of butter, add flour to form a roux, then slowly pour in the hot milk while continuing to stir to avoid lumps. Cook until it thickens, then season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
  7. Take a baking dish and start assembling the lasagne: spread some béchamel on the bottom, then a layer of lasagne, on top distribute some of the clam mixture and a little béchamel; sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
  8. Continue with the layers until all the ingredients are used up, finishing with béchamel and Parmesan.
  9. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 20 minutes or until the surface is gratinéed and golden brown.
  10. Let the lasagne rest for a moment before serving.

Trivia

Clams are a prized ingredient in cooking, known for their tasty meat and ability to enrich dishes with flavor. They are ideal in the preparation of first courses and can also be used in risottos and soups.

Clam Lasagne