Fusilli with Spicy Clams

• Warm oil in large sauté pan set over low heat; cover and cook onion, fennel and saffron, stirring frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes or until onion is translucent. Add wine; increase heat to high and boil for 4 minutes. Add tomatoes and pinch of salt. Reduce heat to medium; cover and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until tomatoes are softened.
• In large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water; return pasta to pot.
• Meanwhile, stir clams and half of the serrano peppers into tomato mixture. Increase heat to high; cook, covered, for 8 minutes or until clams open (discard any that do not open). Add clam sauce to pasta; toss, adding small amounts of the reserved cooking water, if needed, to loosen sauce and coat pasta. Serve with remaining serrano pepper on the side.

Recipe Provided by Chef Sharon Sanders