Fettuccine with Spicy Shellfish

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper 
  • 1 pound fresh fettuccine 
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese 
  • 1/4 cup shredded basil leaves 
  • 6 ounces dry chorizo, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise 
  • 1 large shallot, minced 2 large garlic cloves, minced 
  • 2 plum tomatoes—peeled, seeded and chopped 
  • 1 dozen littleneck clams, scrubbed 
  • 1 cup bottled clam juice 
  • 1 pound mussels, scrubbed 
  • 1 pound shelled and deveined medium shrimp 
  • Salt

Directions

  1. In a small skillet, combine 1/4 cup of the olive oil with the crushed red pepper and cook over moderate heat for 2 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until it is barely al dente; drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Return the pasta to the pot and stir in the warm chile oil, 1/4 cup of the cheese and 2 tablespoons of the basil.
  3. In a very large, deep skillet, heat the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil. Add the chorizo and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, until the fat is rendered, about 2 minutes. Add the shallot and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, clams and clam juice, cover and cook until the clams just begin to open, about 5 minutes. Add the mussels, cover and cook until all the shells have opened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the shrimp, season with salt and cook until pink and curled, about 2 minutes.
  4. Using a ladle, transfer half of the liquid to the pasta in the pot and cook over high heat, tossing, until the pasta is al dente and heated through, about 2 minutes. Divide the pasta between bowls and spoon the shellfish all around. Ladle the broth on top and garnish with the remaining 2 tablespoons of shredded basil and 1/4 cup of Parmigiano-Reggiano. Serve right away.Suggested Pairing: Robust, cherry-rich rosé.

Recipe courtesy of Food and Wine