Spaghetti with Clam or Cockle Sauce

• 350 g/12 oz spaghetti
• 1 litre/1¾

Wash and purge the clams or cockles well: leave in a bucket of cold water with a handful of fine oatmeal stirred in for an hour or so.

Cook the shellfish in a saucepan without any water, stirring from time to time. When all the shells are open, strain and reserve the liquor. Remove the flesh from the shells. Fry the onion and garlic in the extra-virgin olive oil until soft but not colou