Chinese Clams Recipe: Delicious and Easy to Make

If you're looking to add some variety to your meal plan, why not try a Chinese-style clam recipe?

Clams are a versatile and delicious seafood that can be cooked in a variety of ways, and Chinese cuisine offers some unique and flavourful recipes to try.

Whether you're a seafood lover or just looking to try something new, a Chinese clam recipe is definitely worth a try.

Selecting and preparing clams is an important step in any recipe, and Chinese-style clam recipes are no exception.

When selecting your clams, look for fresh and firm clams with tightly closed shells.

Before cooking, rinse the clams thoroughly and discard any that are open or cracked.

Chinese-style clam recipes often use ginger, garlic, and other aromatics to add flavour, so be sure to have these ingredients on hand.

 

Selecting and Preparing Clams

If you're planning to cook a delicious Chinese clam recipe, selecting and preparing fresh clams is a crucial step to ensure the success of your dish. Here are some tips on how to buy, clean, and soak clams to get the best results.

Buying Fresh Clams

When buying fresh clams, make sure to choose live ones that are tightly closed.

If the clams are open, tap them gently, and if they don't close, it means they are dead and you should discard them.

Avoid clams with cracked or broken shells, and check if they feel heavy for their size, which indicates they are full of meat.

You can buy fresh clams from your local fishmonger or supermarket.

If you're not planning to cook them immediately, store them in a cool place covered with a damp cloth or paper towel to keep them moist.

Cleaning and Soaking Clams

Before cooking, you need to clean and soak the clams to remove any sand or grit.

First, rinse the clams under cold running water to remove any dirt or debris from the shells.

Then, soak them in a bowl of cold salt water for about 30 minutes to help them expel any sand or grit inside.

To make the salt water, dissolve sea salt in cold water at a ratio of 1 tablespoon of salt per quart of water.

Make sure to use enough water to cover the clams completely. After soaking, discard the water and rinse the clams again under cold running water.

Cooking Techniques and Recipes

Chinese cuisine offers a wide range of clam recipes that are easy to prepare and delicious to eat. Here are some popular cooking techniques and recipes that you can try at home.

Steaming Clams with Aromatics

Steaming clams is a healthy and easy way to cook this seafood delicacy.

To prepare steamed clams with aromatics, you will need fresh littleneck clams, garlic, ginger, and spring onions.

First, rinse the clams under cold water to remove any sand or debris.

Then, place the clams in a steamer basket and add sliced garlic, ginger, and spring onions on top.

Steam for 5-7 minutes until the clams open up. Discard any clams that remain closed.

Serve the steamed clams with a dipping sauce made of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and chopped red chilli.

Stir-Frying Clams in Black Bean Sauce

Stir-frying clams in black bean sauce is a classic Chinese recipe that is full of flavour.

To make this dish, you will need fresh clams, garlic, ginger, scallions, and fermented black beans.

First, rinse the clams under cold water and drain.

Heat oil in a wok or large frying pan over high heat.

Add minced garlic, ginger, and scallions and stir-fry for 30 seconds.

Add the clams and stir-fry for another 30 seconds.

Then, add fermented black beans, soy sauce, oyster sauce, Shaoxing wine, and dark soy sauce and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until the clams are cooked through.

Thicken the sauce with a cornstarch slurry and serve hot with steamed rice.

Serving and Garnishing

To enhance the flavour and presentation of your clam dish, you can garnish it with fresh cilantro, sliced scallions, chopped shallots, or red chilli.

You can also sprinkle white pepper or drizzle sesame oil for extra aroma. When serving clams, make sure to provide a bowl for the discarded shells.

Clams are a nutritious seafood that are low in calories, high in protein, and rich in minerals like sodium, potassium, and iron.

However, if you are watching your sodium intake, you should limit your clam consumption as they are naturally high in sodium.

Clams are also a good source of carbohydrates and fiber but low in fat.

The prep time for clam recipes varies depending on the cooking technique and recipe. Steaming clams takes about 10-15 minutes while stir-frying clams takes about 20-30 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best way to stir-fry clams with oyster sauce?

To make a delicious stir-fried clam dish with oyster sauce, you should first clean and prepare the clams by soaking them in salted water for at least 30 minutes.

Then, heat some oil in a wok or pan and stir-fry some garlic and ginger until fragrant.

Add the clams and stir-fry for a few minutes until they start to open up.

Then, add some oyster sauce and a bit of water or chicken broth, cover the wok or pan and let the clams cook until they are fully open. Serve hot with some chopped green onions on top.

Can you suggest a good spicy clam dish in the Chinese style?

If you like spicy food, you can try making a Sichuan-style spicy clam dish.

To make this dish, you will need to stir-fry some garlic, ginger and Sichuan peppercorns in oil until fragrant.

Then, add some chopped chili peppers and stir-fry for a few seconds before adding the clams.

Stir-fry the clams until they start to open up, then add some soy sauce, Shaoxing wine and a bit of sugar.

Cover the wok or pan and let the clams cook until fully open. Serve hot with some chopped green onions on top.

How do you prepare frozen clams for a Chinese-inspired meal?

If you are using frozen clams, you should thaw them in the fridge overnight or under running water.

Then, soak them in salted water for at least 30 minutes to remove any sand or grit.

Rinse the clams thoroughly and drain them before using them in your recipe.

What's the secret to a perfect Chinese fried clams dish?

The secret to a perfect Chinese fried clams dish is to use fresh clams and to coat them in a light batter before frying.

To make the batter, mix together some cornstarch, flour, salt, pepper and some cold water until you get a smooth consistency.

Dip the clams in the batter and deep-fry them in hot oil until they are golden brown. Serve hot with some lemon wedges on the side.

How do you make clams with black bean sauce like they do in China?

To make clams with black bean sauce, you will need to stir-fry some garlic, ginger and black beans in oil until fragrant.

Then, add the clams and stir-fry until they start to open up.

Add some soy sauce, sugar and a bit of water or chicken broth and let the clams cook until fully open. Serve hot with some chopped green onions on top.

Do I need to cook canned clams before adding them to a Chinese recipe?

No, you do not need to cook canned clams before adding them to a Chinese recipe.

Canned clams are already cooked and can be added directly to your stir-fry or soup. However, you should drain the liquid from the can and rinse the clams before using them to remove any excess salt or brine.