Baek Jong-won's Clams Stir-fry Recipe: A Special Dish with the Flavor of the Korean Sea

Manila clams are a common ingredient in Korean home cooking, characterized by their savory and nutty flavor. This recipe features "Ba-ji-rak Bok-eum" (stir-fried manila clams), based on a Baek Jong-won recipe.Stir-fried Manila ClamsThis dish highlights the clam's flavor and offers various variations for a unique culinary experience. It's perfect as an appetizer or a simple side dish. We'll cover the basic version, as well as variations using Makgeolli (Korean rice wine) and Cheongha (Korean rice wine), so you can customize it to your liking.

Introducing the Ingredients

Basic Version

• Manila Clams (Ba-ji-rak): 500g
• Sichuan Peppercorns (Sa-cheon Go-chu): As needed
• Green Onions (Dae-pa): ½ cup (40g)
• Garlic (Ma-neul): 4 cloves (30g)
• Vegetable Oil (Sik-yong-yu): 1/3 cup (40g)

Makgeolli Variation

• Manila Clams (Ba-ji-rak): 500g
• Makgeolli (Korean Rice Wine): 1 cup (180g)
• Sichuan Peppercorns (Sa-cheon Go-chu): As needed
• Vegetable Oil (Sik-yong-yu): 1/3 cup (40g)
• Garlic (Ma-neul): 4 cloves (30g)
• Butter (Beo-teo): 2 tbsp (20g)
• Flower Salt (Kkot So-geum): As needed
• Green Onions (Dae-pa): As needed

Cheongha Variation

• Manila Clams (Ba-ji-rak): 500g
• Cheongha (Korean Rice Wine): 1 cup (180g)
• Sichuan Peppercorns (Sa-cheon Go-chu): As needed
• Vegetable Oil (Sik-yong-yu): 1/3 cup (40g)
• Garlic (Ma-neul): 4 cloves (30g)

Seasoning Sauce

• Brown Sugar (Hwang Seol-tang): 1/3 tbsp (3g)
• Vinegar (Sik-cho): 2 tbsp (20g)
• Soy Sauce (Jin Gan-jang): As needed

Cleaning the Manila Clams

1. Purging (Hae-gam-ha-gi)
Purge the clams in saltwater. A ratio of 1 tbsp of salt per 1L of water is recommended. Place them in a dark place for about 2 hours for purging, then rinse thoroughly.

2. Thorough Cleaning (Kkae-kkit-hi Se-cheok-ha-gi)
Rinse the purged clams under running water to remove any remaining sand or impurities from the shells.

Cooking Instructions

Basic Version: Showcasing the Natural Flavor of Manila Clams

1. Prepare the Ingredients

• Remove the stems from the garlic and chop coarsely. Slice the green onions thinly.
• Prepare the Sichuan peppercorns according to your preference for spiciness.

2. Sauté Garlic for Aroma

• In a deep pan, add vegetable oil and sauté the garlic and Sichuan peppercorns over low heat.
• Once the garlic is lightly browned, add the clams and cover the pan to cook.

3. Cook the Clams

• When the clams open, remove the lid, add the sliced green onions, and mix well.
• Serve and enjoy!

Makgeolli Variation: A Unique Combination of Korean Alcohol and Clams

1. Prepare the Ingredients

• Prepare the basic ingredients along with Makgeolli and butter.

2. Enhance the Flavor with Makgeolli and Butter

• After sautéing the garlic and Sichuan peppercorns, add the clams and Makgeolli. Cover and cook.
• When the clams start to open, add the butter, cover, and cook again.
• Add thinly sliced green onions and season with flower salt.

Cheongha Variation: Clean and Subtle Flavor of Stir-fried Manila Clams

1. Highlighting the Clean Taste of Cheongha

• Sauté the garlic and Sichuan peppercorns to bring out the aroma. Add the clams and Cheongha, then cover.
• When the clams open, turn off the heat and serve.

Cooking Tips

• Adjusting Spiciness
  You can adjust the spiciness by adding more Sichuan peppercorns or Cheongyang peppers.
• Adding Sauce to Taste
  Add the seasoning sauce (brown sugar, vinegar, soy sauce) to enhance the savory flavor.
• Various Applications
  You can also enjoy the stir-fried manila clams as a bibimbap (mixed rice with various ingredients) topping.

The Allure of Korean-Style Manila Clam Dishes

Korean-style stir-fried manila clams are a simple yet flavorful dish that highlights the savory taste of seafood. Following Baek Jong-won's recipe maximizes the clam's flavor, and various variations offer unique culinary experiences.

Excellent as an appetizer or side dish, this dish delivers deep flavor with simple ingredients, making it easy for anyone to prepare. Enhance your dinner table with stir-fried manila clams tonight!

Experience the unique flavors of Korea with Baek Jong-won's stir-fried manila clam recipe!