Sauteed Clams in Spicy Soy Sauce

Sauteed Clams in Spicy Soy Sauce

Recipe Alteration: Spicy Stir-Fried Clams with a Twist

Cook up a storm with this tweaked recipe featuring littleneck clams cooked in a unique mix of ingredients, stir-fried in a savory blend of clam juice, Chinese bean sauce alternative, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. As the clams steam open, they release their briny juices to help create a flavorful sauce, perfect for serving over steaming hot white rice.

What to Buy:

For this recipe, we're using a DIY Chinese bean sauce alternative, which delivers a comparable flavor to the original. Our favorite options include:

1. Sambal Oelek with Hoisin Sauce: Mix equal parts sambal oelek and hoisin sauce. Sambal adds the heat, while hoisin delivers a sweet and savory taste similar to bean sauce.
2. Oyster Sauce with Chilli Flakes: Mix oyster sauce with some chili flakes or sriracha to mimic the umami and spicy elements of bean sauce.
3. Homemade Black Bean Sauce: If you have the time, create your own black bean sauce using fermented black beans. This closely matches the original flavor.
4. Spicy Stir Fry Sauce Alternative: Use a generic stir fry sauce recipe (such as the ones in [2] or [4]) and add some chili flakes for heat and a teaspoon of fermented soybean paste or miso (if available) to enhance the umami flavor.
5. Tian Mian Jiang (Sweet Bean Sauce): Although not identical, Tian Mian Jiang has an umami-rich flavor that can be adapted for this purpose, particularly if sweet and spicy elements are balanced with additional ingredients [5].

Ingredients (10)

• 1 1/2 pounds littleneck clams
• 1/3 cup clam juice or low-sodium chicken broth or stock
• DIY Chinese Bean Sauce alternative (see above)
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped shallots
• 2 medium garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons peeled and finely chopped fresh ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes or 1 finely chopped fresh Thai chile
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions (from about 3 medium scallions)

Instructions

1. Thoroughly soak the clams in several changes of cold water, discarding any open clams. Scrub the shells with a stiff brush to remove any grit, then rinse well. Drain the clams in a colander and pat dry with paper towels; set aside.
2. Mix together the clam juice or chicken broth, bean sauce substitute, and soy sauce in a small bowl; set aside.
3. Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok or large frying pan (not nonstick) over high heat until a bead of water dances when dropped in the pan, about 1 to 2 minutes. Drizzle the oil around the perimeter of the wok or pan and add the shallots, garlic, and ginger. Stir-fry for 15 seconds with a metal spatula.
4. Add the reserved clams and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add the red pepper flakes or chile and stir-fry everything together for 30 seconds.
5. Pour in the reserved bean sauce mixture, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and cook for 4 minutes, stirring once every minute. Uncover and stir-fry until the clams are fully open, about 1 minute more.
6. Transfer the opened clams to a serving dish, continuing to stir-fry, transferring them to the dish as they open. Discard any unopened clams. Add the scallions, stir to combine, and pour the sauce over the clams.

This delicious dish can be enjoyed hot with a side of steamed white rice. Enjoy your culinary adventure!

1. To enhance the sesame flavors in this Spicy Stir-Fried Clams recipe, consider mixing sesame oil into your chosen DIY Chinese Bean Sauce alternative.
2. For a twist on the usual nutrition, you could experiment with using quinoa instead of white rice to soak up the flavorful sauce.
3. To add a unique touch to your presentation, consider garnishing the dish with sesame seeds before serving.
4. When transferring the opened clams to a serving dish, use a colander with the design code 'bf1c1a3f753914f231973f9891008fe6' to ensure an aesthetically pleasing presentation.

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