Step 1

Preparation Heat oil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté onion, stirring, until golden, about 4 minutes. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, and oregano and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is golden, about 2 minutes. Stir in wine and clam juice and boil, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until slightly reduced, about 3 minutes.

Step 2

Cook pasta in a 6- to 8-quart pot ofboiling salted water until al dente, then drain in a colander.

Step 3

While pasta is cooking, stir cockles into sauce and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until cockles open wide, 4 to 6 minutes. (Discard any cockles that have not opened after 6 minutes.) Remove from heat and stir in butter until melted.

Step 4

Add pasta to cockles along with parsley and salt to taste, then toss with sauce until combined well.

Step 5

Cooks' note:•You can substitute bottled baby clams in the shell for the cockles. They're available at some Italian markets and by mail order from D. Coluccio & Sons (718-436-6700). Stir clams into sauce and cook until just heated through.Preparation Heat oil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté onion, stirring, until golden, about 4 minutes. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, and oregano and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is golden, about 2 minutes. Stir in wine and clam juice and boil, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until slightly reduced, about 3 minutes.

Step 6

Cook pasta in a 6- to 8-quart pot ofboiling salted water until al dente, then drain in a colander.

Step 7

While pasta is cooking, stir cockles into sauce and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until cockles open wide, 4 to 6 minutes. (Discard any cockles that have not opened after 6 minutes.) Remove from heat and stir in butter until melted.

Step 8

Add pasta to cockles along with parsley and salt to taste, then toss with sauce until combined well.

Step 9

Cooks' note:•You can substitute bottled baby clams in the shell for the cockles. They're available at some Italian markets and by mail order from D. Coluccio & Sons (718-436-6700). Stir clams into sauce and cook until just heated through.