Top 25 Italian Mollusk Dishes

Quick and easy to prepare, yet packing some serious flavor, spaghetti alle vongole is a traditional Neapolitan dish consisting of only two key ingredients: vongole clams and pasta. However, there is a heated debate considering secondary ingredients, primarily the tomatoes. Purists adore the original dish, made without tomatoes, known as bianco version, while the others prefer a version with crushed tomatoes, or a version with a tomato sauce, known as spaghetti alle vongole con la salsa di pomodoro. Similar issues arise regarding the addition or omission of peperoncino and pepper in the dish. Regardless of these issues, everyone agrees that the pasta should be cooked al dente. Although the dish is best in the summer, when all of the ingredients are as fresh as they might be, it is also one of the most important meals of the traditional Neapolitan Christmas Eve dinner, known as Cena della vigilia di Natale.Expand

Typically served as a light lunch and a staple of many Dalmatian taverns (called konoba) and restaurants, crni rižot is a unique black risotto made with fresh squid or cuttlefish. Squid or cuttlefish ink gives the risotto its intimidating black color, while other seafood such as mussels, clams, and other shellfish are also commonly added to the dish. Just watch your smile as your teeth and lips will most probably turn black while eating it. Although the origins are still somewhat murky, it is believed that the dish was invented while Croatia was under Venetian rule, and that's the reason why it spread first in Veneto (where it's known as risotto nero di seppia) and then throughout the Mediterranean.Expand

Seppie in umido is a traditional dish originating from Venice. The dish is usually made with a combination of sliced cuttlefish, onions, garlic, tomatoes, tomato paste, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, rosemary, oil, salt, and black pepper. The onions and garlic are sautéed in oil until soft, and then mixed with the rosemary and cuttlefish. The mixture is covered with water and simmered for more than half an hour, and the tomatoes, tomato paste, spices, salt, and pepper are then added to the pan. The dish is slowly cooked until the sauce becomes thick and the cuttlefish is tender. Seppie in umido is typically served over polenta.Expand

Impepata di cozze is a traditional dish originating from Naples. These Neapolitan-style mussels are usually made with a combination of mussels, garlic, hot peppers, parsley, olive oil, and lots of freshly ground black pepper. The garlic and chili peppers are sautéed in olive oil, and the mussels are then cooked in the same pan until they open up. Once done, the dish is sprinkled with parsley and black pepper, then served with lemon wedges and toasted bread slices that should be used to mop up the tasty juices. Impepata di cozze is often served as an appetizer for Sunday lunch in seaside restaurants of Campania. Interestingly, the original recipe only calls for mussels and black pepper, and everything else is just a welcome addition.Expand

Cozze alla Tarantina is a delicious seafood appetizer consisting of delicate, meaty mussels served in a spicy tomato sauce. It is important that the mussels are as fresh as possible. The tomato sauce is typically flavored with garlic, parsley, chiles, olive oil, white wine, and pepper. For the best experience, it is recommended to serve the dish with toasted bread or croutons, which can be used to mop up all of the flavorful juices. Pair it with Pinot Grigio, Vermentino, Chardonnay, or Riesling.Expand

Calamari ripieni is a flavorful Italian seafood dish consisting of stuffed calamari. The calamari are stuffed with a variety of ingredients including garlic, breadcrumbs, capers, pine nuts, parsley, and onions. It is recommended to use only the freshest calamari, which is also the trickiest part of the dish, as cleaning and preparing it is a lengthy process. Stuffed calamari are often paired with tomato sauce, sometimes with the addition of anchovies, and the whole concoction is then baked in an oven until tender.Expand

Folpetti is a traditional dish originating from Veneto. The dish is prepared with a combination of baby octopus, lemon juice, parsley, salt, black pepper, and extra-virgin olive oil. This simple preparation of Venetian-style baby octopus starts by boiling the octopus for about half an hour. It is then seasoned with salt, black pepper, olive oil, and lemon juice. Before serving, this traditional appetizer is sprinkled with chopped parsley. It's recommended to pair folpetti with a glass of wine or prosecco on the side. For a more filling meal, serve the folpetti with boiled potatoes on the side.Expand

Cozze gratinate is a traditional mussel-based dish originating from Italy. Although there are many recipes, the dish is usually made with a combination of mussels, garlic, breadcrumbs, parsley, olive oil, oregano, salt, and pepper. The mussels are scrubbed, cleaned, and placed in a large pan over high heat until they open. The half-shells with the mussels are then placed into a roasting pan, sprinkled with parsley, oregano, and garlic. The mussels are drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with breadcrumbs before they're baked for a few minutes, seasoned with black pepper, and served. It's recommended to serve the dish with lemon wedges on the side.Expand

This Italian specialty is the Neapolitan version of the classic peasant dish called pasta e fagioli or pasta with beans. It is the addition of mussels (cozze in Italian), the liquid in which they’ve been cooking, and the simple combination of pasta and beans that sets this variation apart from a plethora of regional variations on the dish. Pasta e fagioli con cozze typically consists of mixed pasta or ditalini pasta, white cannellini beans (also borlotti or cranberry beans), mussels and their cooking liquid, garlic, white wine, olive oil, peperoncino or chili flakes, tomatoes, herbs, and seasonings. Traditionally, the dish is characterized by a thick and creamy consistency, although it may sometimes be a bit more on the soupy side. Often flavored with diced pancetta, this specialty is typically associated with the cuisine of the villages of the Sorrento peninsula. The pasta is usually enjoyed as a primo piatto (first course) and it's typically garnished with freshly chopped parsley, mussel shells, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.Expand

Capelonghe veneziane is a traditional Venetian way of preparing razor clams. The dish is made with a combination of razor clams (capelonghe or cannolicchi), olive oil, parsley, salt, and black pepper. The razor clams are washed, soaked in cold salted water in order to remove the sand, and then cooked in olive oil until they open. When they open, the razor clams are removed from the pan, while the cooking juices are strained to remove leftover sand. The strained liquid is mixed with olive oil, pepper, and parsley, and the dressing is then poured over the razor clams before serving. Razor clams can also be baked in the oven and dressed the same way. Just be careful not to overcook them as the texture will become rubbery.Expand