Clams are abundant in summer, which coincides with the bustling business of street stalls and night beer spots during the season. In Northeast China, clams are usually called “xiao ren xian.” Whether served cold or stir-fried, clams make for great accompaniments to alcohol in the summer.
Clam Recipe – Salt-Baked Clams
Ingredients:
Clams, coarse salt, bay leaves, Sichuan pepper, five-spice powder.
Steps:
1. Clean the clams and cut open their backs using a knife; let them stand to drain.
2. Pour coarse salt into a pot and stir-fry until hot.
3. Then add Sichuan pepper, bay leaves, and five-spice powder and stir-fry to release the aroma.
4. Place the drained clams in the pot with their opened side facing down.
5. Cover the pot, turn off the heat, and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
Tips:
If the clams are not drained, the salt will melt, making the dish too salty.
Clam Recipe – Spicy Stir-Fried Clams
Ingredients:
Clams, red chili peppers, green chili peppers, scallions, ginger, cooking wine, sugar, fish sauce.
Steps:
1. Soak the clams in salt water and clean them thoroughly.
2. Chop scallions, ginger, and chili peppers.
3. Heat oil in a wok, sauté garlic and ginger slices, then stir-fry the clams vigorously.
4. Add cooking wine, fish sauce, and sugar, stirring evenly.
5. Add red and green chili peppers and stir-fry briefly before serving.
Clam Recipe – Clam Tofu Soup
Ingredients:
Clams, tofu, greens, salt, monosodium glutamate (MSG), sesame oil.
Steps:
1. Soak the clams to get rid of any sand and clean them.
2. Slice the tofu and wash the greens.
3. Boil water in a pot, add the clams and greens.
4. Once it boils again, add salt and MSG for seasoning, then drizzle with sesame oil.
Clam Recipe – Steamed Clams
Ingredients:
Clams, red pepper, scallions, ginger, garlic, cooking wine, fish sauce.
Steps:
1. Clean the clams thoroughly, slice the red pepper.
2. Cut scallions into sections and slice ginger.
3. Place a layer of scallions and ginger on a steaming plate, then lay the clams on top, followed by another layer of scallions and ginger. Drizzle with cooking wine.
4. Steam over high heat for about 5 minutes in boiling water.
5. Remove the scallions and ginger on top of the steamed clams, evenly pour fish sauce, sprinkle with red pepper strips, minced garlic, and a spoonful of hot oil.
Clam Recipe – Wine-Stewed Clams
Ingredients:
Large clams, rice wine, ginger.
Steps:
1. Clean the clams and soak them in salt water for around 2 hours.
2. Arrange the clams in a clay pot and add ginger slices.
3. Pour in rice wine and sprinkle a little salt.
4. Bring water to a boil in a steamer, place the pot inside, and steam for about 7 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it sit for another 2 minutes.
Tips:
No need to add water to the clay pot, as there will be broth after steaming, giving a delicious taste.
Clam Recipe – Poached Clams
Ingredients:
Clams, Chinese flowering cabbage, scallion whites, chili peppers, soy sauce, fish sauce, oil.
Steps:
1. Clean the clams and cook them.
2. Remove the shells after cooking and blanch the Chinese flowering cabbage.
3. Arrange the Chinese flowering cabbage and clams on a plate.
4. Slice the scallion whites and chop the chili peppers, place them on the clams and Chinese flowering cabbage, and pour soy sauce and fish sauce.
5. Heat up a spoonful of oil and pour it over the top.