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Vialone Nano Riso alle Vongele (Venetian Rice with Clams)

Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
Serves: Serve 4

Vialone Nano rice—a favorite of the coastal Veneto region of Italy—is classically paired with fish and seafood. Here we pair these pebbly, pearl-like grains with a quick brodetto of clams flavored with white wine, garlic and chili flakes.

Cook’s note: To cook the Vialone Nano rice, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium high heat. Add one cup of rice and cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice is al dente, about 12 minutes. Drain and spread out on a baking sheet to cool. Store the cooked rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use throughout the week.

Recipe by Rolando Beramendi, founder of Manicaretti Italian Food Importers

Ingredients

Instructions

To make sure your clams are grit-and-sand-free, place the scrubbed clams in a large bowl of cold water with a teaspoon of salt. Let the clams soak for 20 minutes (they will expel any sand and it will sink to the bottom of the bowl). Lift them from the bowl and transfer them into a clean bowl.

In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil and garlic over medium heat. When the garlic cloves begin to turn golden, remove them from the pan, add the hot pepper flakes and cook for another 30 seconds.

Pour in the white wine and fish stock and bring to a simmer. Add the cleaned clams, cover and cook until the clams begin to open, about 2-3 minutes. Taste, and season with salt and pepper, as necessary.

Remove the pan from the heat and sprinkle the cooked rice over the top of the clams and broth. Cover pan and allow to rest until the rice is heated through and has soaked in some of that flavorful brodetto, about 5 minutes.

Garnish with flat-leaf parsley leaves and a finishing flourish of extra virgin olive oil.