Clam or Cockle Soup with Borlotti Beans

As with so many of my Italian food experiences, I first had this soup in New York. I would never have thought of combining beans and clams, but the association is delicate and intriguing. This recipe includes a fair amount of fresh parsley, which contributes to the freshness of the dish.

Use the smallest clams you can find—Manila clams are my favorite—or better yet, tiny New Zealand cockles, which are beginning to appear more regularly in fancy fish markets.

This soup is bes