Clams Chinese Style Recipes

EASY CHINESE CLAMS WITH BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Briefly rinse the black beans with water, then drain them and put them in a bowl with 30ml (2tbsp) of hot water. Soak for about 15 minutes, then mash them with a fork and mix in the rice wine.
• Rinse the clams under cold running water then drain them in a colander.
• Cut the garlic cloves in half and thinly slice them. Slice the bird's-eye chillies (or other small hot chillies) in half lengthwise, scrape out the seeds and finely chop the flesh. Cut the banana chillies (or other long mild chillies) into thin rounds. Mince the spring onions. Dissolve the cornstarch in 15ml (1tbsp) of cool water.
• Place a wok over a high flame, pour in the cooking oil and, when it's hot, add the garlic and ginger and stir-fry for about 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Add the bird's-eye chillies and stir, then mix in the black beans and the soaking liquid. Cook until sizzling, then add the clams, the banana chillies and about 60ml (¼cup) of hot water. Stir well, then cover the wok with the lid and turn the heat to medium. Cook for several minutes, or until the clams are cooked, stirring occasionally. If needed, stir in a little more water (the clams will give off a lot of liquid). The clams are ready when the shells open.
• Push the clams to the sides of the wok to create a well in the centre. Stir the cornstarch/water mixture, then drizzle it into the liquid in the well. Stir everything together and simmer for about 30 seconds, or until the liquid thickens slightly. Taste for seasonings and adjust, if necessary.
• Transfer the ingredients to a serving dish, sprinkle with spring onion and garnish with fresh cori­ander sprigs.

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.

CLAMS, CHINESE STYLE

Steps:

• Boil the Spaghetti according to the package.
• While the spaghetti is cooking, put the Clams, Soya Sauce, Oil, Red Chilis and salt in a bowl. Mix well.
• When the spaghetti is done, drain and set aside.
• Put the clam mixture in a pan and fry on medium heat for 1 minute.
• Add in spaghetti and fry for 2 more minutes, mix evey ten seconds.
• Turn off the heat and serve hot.

CASSEROLE OF CLAMS AND CHINESE SAUSAGES

Steps:

• Rinse the clams and drain well. Prepare the pepper strips and set aside.
• Cut each sausage on the bias into quarter-inch-thick slices. There should be about one-half cup.
• Heat two tablespoons of the butter in a heavy casserole and add the sausage, garlic and half the scallions. Cook, stirring, about one minute and add the wine and clam juice. Cook over moderately high heat about two minutes or until the liquid is reduced to about one and a third cups. Add the clams and pepper strips. Cover closely and cook three to five minutes. As each clam opens up, remove it. If the cooking liquid has evaporated excessively, add a bit of water. Swirl in the remaining butter. Put the clams in a shallow serving dish and pour the sauce over all. Sprinkle with the remaining scallions.

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.