Name: BA's Best Linguine and Clams
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons Diamond Crystal or 1 tablespoon Morton kosher salt, plus more; 12 garlic cloves, divided; 4 ounces sourdough or country-style bread, crusts removed, cut into ½-inch pieces; 2 tablespoons plus ¼ cup olive oil, plus more for serving; 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest; 2 oil-packed anchovy fillets (optional); ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, plus more for serving; ⅓ cup dry white wine; 2 pounds littleneck clams (about 24) or cockles (about 32), scrubbed; 12 ounces linguine or spaghetti; ½ cup finely chopped parsley; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Kat Boystova

Clams vary in brininess and the amount of liquid they’ll release during cooking, so you’ll need to adjust the salt and add pasta water accordingly. To prevent the sauce from getting too salty, we recommend a measured amount of salt for the pasta water. If possible, look for an artisanal dried pasta for this recipe—the rougher surface texture will catch the slippery sauce better. This is part of BA's Best, a collection of our essential recipes.

Recipe notes

Shrimp Scampi Pasta

With lightning-quick shrimp and an easy garlic butter sauce, this crowd-pleasing pasta builds flavor fast.

Blended Pastina Soup

A blended soup for kids who don’t want to “see” their vegetables—or anyone else looking for a steamy bowl of chicken soup comfort.

Smoky Brown-Butter Pasta

Smoky brown-butter pasta is a pantry-friendly, grown-up version of beloved buttered noodles. Salted almonds and parsley elevate this to bistro-worthy fare.

Shrimp and Pea Pancake

Inspired by Korean pajeon, this shrimp-studded pancake features fresh snap peas as a spring-y addition.

Scallops With Creamy Spinach Sauce

Buttery scallops pair with a verdant spinach purée for a restaurant-worthy dish.

Cold Matcha Noodles

Matcha tints this refreshing noodle dish a delightful green hue—and imparts its characteristic grassy flavor.

Spanish Shrimp and Rice with Saffron Mayo

Use the dregs of that jar of marinara in your fridge to cook rice and shrimp in this one-skillet weeknight dinner.

Sun Gold Tomato Pasta With Pistachio Gremolata

A garlicky pistachio topping takes this sunny summer pasta from good to great.