Mentaiko Spaghetti with Clams & Parmesan

Mentaiko is chilli cod roe and, like yuzu kosho, is one of the main food products of the island of Kyushu in Japan. It can be eaten in many ways – as a topping on white rice, dried and grated on savoury dishes or as a flavouring for spaghetti sauce, the latter being probably the most popular usage in Japan. Not strictly a Nikkei dish, I have included it here as an example of a strong European influence on Japanese cooking, popular throughout the country. I love mentaiko spaghetti, and in th