Try canned clams and olives to give your quick pasta a briny punch

This recipe is great for a group, or, if you’re like me, as leftovers to eat for a few days to cut down on cooking, writes Aaron Hutcherson

In this recipe, that clam flavour is added to your favourite jar of tomato sauce for convenience sake, but you could instead make a marinara from scratch (For The Washington Post)

Pasta and a jar of store-bought sauce is a classic in the world of pantry cooking. It's a quick, pretty effortless and filling meal. While the adage “If it ain't broke, don't fix it” might be running through the minds of those that turn to this dish for dinner salvation frequently, with just a few more ingredients – canned clams, olives and some spices – you can transform it from merely satisfactory to assuredly pleasing.

First we need to talk about canned clams. Preserved and tinned seafood has surged in popularity in recent years. While much of the hype is focused on fancy conservas, more common canned seafood can be pantry all-stars.

“Conventional wisdom says that fresher is better, but when it comes to umami-packed brine and easy volume, canned clams have the edge,” Anna Hezel wrote for Taste. That's because all of the prep work has been done, so you can just grab a can opener and have affordable seafood at the ready. “These grocery store cans, which you can get for around £3, are massively flavourful, taste perfectly salty, and come with plenty of brine to double down on the clam flavour in whatever you're making,” Hezel wrote.

In this recipe, that clam flavour is added to your favourite jar of tomato sauce for convenience sake, but you could instead make a blender marinara from scratch. Clams and fennel are a good pairing - the seeds add flavour and texture to the pasta sauce, and crushed red pepper flakes lend some heat. Lastly, chopped kalamata olives add a third layer of briny flavour and have a meaty texture to complement the clams.

This recipe is great for a group, or, if you're like me, as leftovers to eat for a few days to cut down on cooking all the time. Either way, it shows how a few carefully curated, shelf-stable ingredients can break you out of a pantry pasta rut.

Canned clams are a great ingredient to have on hand for a quick pantry supper (For The Washington Post)

Pasta with marinara, olives and clams

Canned clams are a great ingredient to have on hand for a quick pantry supper. The minced clams and their juice add briny dimension to a jar of your favorite marinara sauce that has been spruced up with fennel seeds and crushed red pepper flakes. Chopped kalamata olives enhance the briny flavor and have a meaty texture to complement the clams.

Serves: 6-8

Time: 25 minutes

Storage Notes: Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Ingredients

Fine sea salt or table salt

450g spaghetti

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon fennel seeds

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, plus more to taste

One (650g) jar marinara sauce

Two (180g) cans minced clams in juice, drained and juice reserved

About 12 chopped kalamata olives

Method

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until just shy of al dente, then drain.

2. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oil until shimmering. Add the fennel seeds and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring regularly, until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir in the marinara sauce, clam juice and olives, bring to a simmer and cook, stirring regularly, for about 5 minutes.

3. Add the drained pasta and clams to the skillet and toss until the pasta is coated and the clams are warmed through, 1 to 2 minutes. Taste, and season with salt and/or more red pepper flakes, if desired. Transfer the pasta to a serving platter or individual bowls and serve.

Nutrition per serving (1 cup), based on 8: Calories: 323; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Cholesterol: 3 mg; Sodium: 546 mg; Carbohydrates: 54 g; Dietary Fibre: 5 g; Sugar: 10 g; Protein: 9 g

This analysis is an estimate based on available ingredients and this preparation. It should not substitute for a dietitian's or nutritionist's advice.

© Washington Post