Black Bean Clams Casino Recipes

STIR-FRIED CLAMS IN BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Before you do anything, make sure that your clams are washed thoroughly. There's nothing more unpleasant than finding sand in your food. When your ingredients have been prepared and you're ready to cook, heat the oil in your wok over high heat. Add the ginger and allow it to caramelize (about 20 seconds), taking care not to burn it.
• Next, add the garlic, scallion, peppers and fermented black beans, and stir fry the mixture for about 10 seconds. Add the clams. Pour the Shaoxing wine around the perimeter of the wok, and immediately cover the wok. Cook until the clams begin to open. At this point, the liquid in the wok should be boiling and generating steam when the wok is covered. The time for the clams to cook and open up depends upon the size and type of the clams you are using and how hot you can get your stove. Once a good number of them have opened, remove the cover and give everything a stir.
• Stir in the sugar, sesame oil, pepper. Discard any of the clams that didn't open. Now taste the sauce. If it's not salty enough, you can add a little bit of soy sauce. Once your satisfied with the flavor of the sauce, add about half of the corn starch slurry to the liquid in the wok and stir. Add more slurry if needed to further thicken the sauce.
• Stir in the chopped cilantro and gently stir the mixture so the sauce coats the clams.
• Serve immediately.

CLAMS WITH BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Check the clams by prodding any open clams gently with a knife. If they don't close, discard them. Trim, mash and finely chop the garlic clove. Peel and julienne a generous pinch of fresh ginger root.
• Heat a shallow pan (with a tight fitting lid) over medium high heat. Add the oil, garlic and ginger and cook until sizzling but not browned. Add the clams in a single layer, chicken stock and black beans, and cover and cook until the clams just open, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• While the clams are steaming, slice the herbs for the garnish. Check the clams and stir gently to ensure even cooking.
• Remove the clams to a serving bowl with a slotted spoon. Add the oyster sauce, sugar and black pepper to the cooking liquid and taste. Reduce if you desire a fuller flavored sauce. While boiling, whisk in the cornstarch mixture a little at a time until thickened to the desired consistency. Spoon the sauce over the cooked clams and serve with the basil, mint or scallion greens. Serve immediately.

MADAME CHU'S CLAMS IN BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Wash and clean clams. Soak in water for about 1 hour, then drain. Heat 2 quarts of water to a boil and add half the clams. As soon as each opens, remove it; then add the remaining clams and repeat the process. Pour cooking liquid into a container and let sand settle to the bottom. Measure out 2 cups of liquid for making sauce.
• Heat oil in a saucepan. Add ginger, garlic and fermented beans. Let them sizzle in the oil for a minute. Add 2 cups clam liquid. Let it boil for 2 minutes. Discard ginger and garlic.
• Add oyster sauce and mix a few times. Thicken with the predissolved cornstarch mixture (stirring again to make sure the water and cornstarch are thoroughly mixed).
• Arrange clams on platter and sprinkle scallions on top. Pour boiling sauce over clams. Serve immediately.

CLAMS CASINO

Steps:

• Soak the clams in cold water to purge any sand, about 20 minutes. Then scrub them clean to remove any dirt or barnacles from the outer shells and then drain.
• Add the white wine and cleaned clams to a large saucepan. Cover and heat over medium. After a few minutes, check to see if any of the clams have opened. Once they start opening, remove the opened clams to a large bowl to cool. Cover the pot and wait another minute or so before checking to see if any more clams have opened. Discard any clams that don't open after 5 minutes. Once all the clams have been removed, turn the heat down to low and let the white wine and clam juice mixture reduce until there is about 1/3 cup of liquid left.
• In the meantime, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to render its fat and slightly browns, about 2 minutes. Next, add the shallots and bell pepper. Cook, stirring, until slightly softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Use a small fine-mesh sieve to strain the 1/3 cup of white wine-clam juice mixture into the skillet. Stir to combine and cook until the mixture is slightly reduced and cohesive, about 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and let cool slightly.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and preheat the oven to broil.
• Mix the panko, olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper together in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Carefully remove the top shell from each clam and use a spoon to loosen the meat from the bottom shell. Place the meat back into the bottom shell and then onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Divide the bacon mixture evenly among the clams, using a spoon to pack the mixture tightly into the shell. Top each of the clams with about 1 teaspoon of the panko mixture.
• Transfer the clams to the broiler and cook until the breadcrumbs are just golden brown, 30 seconds to a 1 minute. Keep an eye on them as the browning can happen quite quickly.
• Remove the clams from the oven and use tongs to transfer them to a serving plate. Garnish with chopped chives. Serve immediately.

CLAMS CASINO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Shuck the clams, leaving each clam in the half-shell and reserving the juices. Strain the juices through a cheesecloth into a bowl.
• Place the clams on a rimmed baking sheet in one even layer. Top each clam with a pepper square, then with a bacon or pancetta square, and with a dab of butter, using all 3 tablespoons evenly. Sprinkle the chopped parsley on top. Pour the reserved shucking juices into a measuring cup, and add enough white wine to make 2 cups combined liquid. Pour the liquid into the bottom of the baking sheet.
• Bake the clams, uncovered, until the bacon or pancetta is crispy and the clams are cooked all the way through, about 25 minutes. Serve on a platter, drizzled with baking juices.

STIR-FRIED CLAMS IN BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Leave the clams in water with a little salt until ready to use. Scrub the shells very thoroughly.
• Heat a wok over a high heat until smoke rises. Add the oil and swirl it around. Add the garlic, ginger and white spring onion. Stir and let them sizzle for a few moments to release their aroma. Add the mashed black beans and stir to mix. Tip in the clams. Sliding the wok scoop or metal spatula to the bottom of the wok, turn and toss for 30-45 seconds. Splash in the wine and sherry around the side of the wok, continuing to turn and stir. When the sizzling dies down, add the soy sauce, sugar and stock or water. Bring to the boil, cover, lower the heat to medium and cook for about eight minutes.
• Remove the opened clams with a pair of chopsticks or tongs to a warm serving platter and keep warm. Stir and turn the remainder a few times and cook, covered, for another four to five minutes so that they will open. Transfer the rest to the serving platter, leaving the sauce in the wok. Discard any clams that do not open.
• Lower the heat, add the well-stirred cornstarch to the sauce, stirring as it thickens. Tip in the green spring onion. Scoop the sauce on to the clams and serve immediately. Sesame oil may be sprinkled on, if desired.
• Serve over hot, steamed rice.

CLAMS WITH CHINESE BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Rinse the beans and put them in a bowl. Cover with cold water and soak overnight.
• Heat the olive oil in a heavy 3- to 4-quart saucepan. Add the shallots and saute over low heat until tender. Stir in the garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and ginger. Drain the black beans and add them. Add the cup of wine, bring to a simmer and add the clams.
• Cover tightly and cook over medium heat until the clams open, about 10 minutes. Taste sauce and add a little water or wine if it is too salty. Transfer to soup plates, garnish with coriander and serve.

CLAMS IN BLACK-BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Dissolve cornstarch in 1 tablespoon warm water and set aside. Soak the salted beans in 1/2 cup warm water for 10 minutes. Drain, and mash coarsely with a fork.
• Set a wok over high heat and pour in the oil. Add the garlic, scallions and ginger and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add the beans and red-pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds. Drop in the clams and stir-fry for 30 seconds, then pour in the wine and broth. Reduce heat to medium and cook, covered, until most of the clams have opened, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cornstarch mixture and raise heat to high. Stir and cook, uncovered, until the sauce adheres to the clams, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle in the cilantro.