Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, add the spaghetti, and cook to desired doneness, 6 to 9 minutes. Drain.

Meanwhile, put the wine, water, shallots, and garlic in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Add the fresh clams, cover, and continue to cook over medium heat. Remove the clams when their shells have opened. Stir the broth from the canned clams into the saucepan. Cook a few minutes more, until the liquid is reduced by half.

Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the buttermilk-and-cornstarch mixture. Cook for about 2 minutes more to thicken, whisking constantly. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, canned clams, oregano, basil, pepper, hot sauce, and chopped parsley.

Combine the pasta and the clam sauce in a warm serving bowl and toss to coat. Garnish with the cooked clams, in their shells.

Fat per serving = 3.6 grams Calories per serving = 375

A low-fat buttermilk-and-cornstarch mixture is the key to this pasta's creamy white sauce. Sweet canned clams provide a pleasing contrast to the tartness of the buttermilk. The fresh clams served in thier shells lend visual excitement to the dish; for added effect, surrand them with slices of red bell pepper.

by Debbie Antes