Spring is Sprung! Spaghetti with Clams & Chourizo Sausage.
September 1, 2011 in Uncategorized
I have soooooo woken up with a little Spring fever today. I just love this sexy season! The sun starts to shine brightly again, the fruit on the fan palm in my garden finally turns from bullet green in both colour and morbidity to a golden mango yellowy orange temptress that the Cape starlings cannot resist! The cacophony of twitters and chirps like the rantings of a Zulu praise speaker ….. and I spend hours watching the birds filling their beaks and tummies with the soft juicy fruit. Summer is just about here and I can feel tendrils of excitement crawling up the back of my legs.
I had planned to post my spring lamb recipe ….. but the colours just don’t seem to please my eyes enough this morning. I am posting an original JanT recipe, the inspiration for which comes from a Portuguese dish called, Porco-Alentejana.
Porco- Alentejana is a traditional dish of pork with clams and potatoes. I can claim the conception of this dish but the cooking of said dish I will credit to the wonderful pasta making hands of TrickyRicky. He has beautiful hands.
Spaghetti with Clams and Chorizo Sausage.
Ingredients
1 finely chopped large onion
2Tbs of finely chopped garlic
½ Chorizo Sausage – cut in half and chopped into 3mm slices
400g of halved cherry tomatoes
2 glasses of dry white wine
1 chicken stock cube
1 jar of clams for a little extra meat (you can also use a tin of clams in brine)
400g clams
2 – 3 chopped chillies
Fresh basil
This dish is ready in about 10 minutes so put a large pot of salted water to boil about 15 minutes
before starting the sauce.
When the water is boiling add one packet of spaghetti to the water and stir.
Heat ½ cup of olive oil in a frying pan
Brown the garlic, chilli and onion
Add the clams, 2 glasses of white wine, black pepper, 1 chicken stock cube and stir together
Add the tomatoes and Chorizo Sausage
Cover with a lid and bring to the boil – when the sauce is boiling lift off the lid and boil down by half.
By this time your pasta will be ready – don’t overcook the spaghetti.
Don’t bother to drain the spaghetti in a colander – just scoop it out of the water and add it directly to the frying pan – let the pasta finish cooking in the sauce as it will suck up all of the wonderful flavour ……..
Serve with a sprig of fresh basil ….
Done!
Pasta finita!
I wish you all a sparkling Spring Day ….
Do you recognize this dude
Tino-the-claw aka Grumpy!
And
Buon Appetito
xxx
Kitchengirl said on September 1, 2011
Tee hee Hi Grumpy! Lovely recipe Jan!
Sous-Chef said on September 1, 2011
Tino-the-claw scares me! I can just hear him saying “you dirty cat!don’t call me scar-face”
rumtumtigger said on September 1, 2011
Ooh yummy! Never thought of combining chourizo with clams before ;o).
mitzireddy said on September 1, 2011
U had to be really quick to get that pic of Tino in action – He is too cute – vicious or not. Lovely recipe and pics as usual, Jan.
food-monger said on September 1, 2011
Too delicious, want to eat it right now. I love clams and love chorizo — great combo.
p.s. love the cat pic, the expression is wonderful
sharonsmit said on September 1, 2011
AWesome recipe! Saw some clams at the Frtui & Veg the other, didnt know what one would do with it! (going back there!) Lol’s the cat does look like the cartoon! He’s got this ‘sod-off’ look on his face! hehe
Have a fabulous Spring Day!! xxx
janicetripepi said on September 1, 2011
Thanks Shaz and let me tell you he can be such a little sod too!!!!! He doesn’t miauw a pretty little kitty meow he makes a noise like a goat!!! Eish … he adopted us about 12 years ago … he is my squatter cat!!!! Have a great evening hun xxx hugs to Jessica xxxx
janicetripepi said on September 1, 2011
Thanks Kristy – hope you try it out – 40 lekker!!!!! xxxxx jan
janicetripepi said on September 1, 2011
Thanks Mitzi – he is such a little bugger!!! xxxx jan
ps: but we do love him!!!
janicetripepi said on September 1, 2011
They love each other – truly!!! Thanks Tiggs have a great evening xxx jan
janicetripepi said on September 1, 2011
He is so old Sue – a real old sod … he adopted us about 12 years ago!! Squattercat!
xxxx
ps: he is so old that his bottom teeth have started to fall out!!!
janicetripepi said on September 1, 2011
Thanks Caro xxx have a good evening xxx jan
tandy.sinclair said on September 1, 2011
Hi, I am Tino II – grumpy cos winter came back today! Happy spring day Jan xxx
janicetripepi said on September 1, 2011
Happy Spring Day to you too – isn’t he the grynch! He is my squattercat – he adopted us and you have never met such a demanding dude. He only eats chicken livers or lambs kidneys – demands some ham whilst we are eating breakfast … and insists on walking on my laptop while I try and type. He is such a character …. he and Bubblz are great mates – but he rules the roost. Both Bubblz and Feenix move over when he marches through the house! If Tino gets into one of their baskets – they wouldnt dare move him!!! hahaha …. but we do love him hey! xxxx pets! they are just the best xxxx jan
HealthyVegetarianFoods said on September 2, 2011
Hi — I am having to look after my son & daughter in laws cats–they have gone to New York to watch the US OPEN & they seem to think every time i enter the house it is food or play time–& when i get home my dog has a hissy fit because he can smell the cats. Your new baby looks quite a character-Have a wonderful weekend
janicetripepi said on September 2, 2011
Thanks Usha – these little fur balls are such little characters aren’t they. Hope you have a fantastic weekend xxx jan
PurpleCalabash said on September 2, 2011
Wow, I love this adapted recipe. My mom used to make Carne de Porco a Alentejana so often. It is one of my favourite pork dishes. Brings back memories. When I’m down in Durban again I will be sure to pop in…we have very similar tastes in food. We will do a colab…:)
Enjoy your weekend Jan.
janicetripepi said on September 2, 2011
Thanks Ana – I would LOVE that! Please be sure to let me know xxxx thanks xxx jan