Irresistible Clam Bibimbap: A Flavorful Winter Delicacy
Irresistible Clam Bibimbap: A Flavorful Winter Delicacy
December Seasonal Winter Clam Dish / Clam Bibimbap
Experience the irresistible taste of clam bibimbap made with fresh, seasonal clams! Tossed in a spicy and sweet sauce, this dish is incredibly delicious when mixed with rice. The vibrant flavors of the seasoned clams, fresh vegetables, and perfectly cooked rice create a delightful culinary experience. Perfect for warming up on a cold winter day!
Ingredients- 1kg fresh ark clams (or similar small clam)
- 100g scallions, finely chopped
- 10-12 large lettuce leaves, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 medium carrot, thinly julienned
Clam Purification (Deveining)- 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt
Clam Boiling- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice wine (mirin or cooking wine)
Seasoning Sauce- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon anchovy sauce (fish sauce)
- 5 tablespoons gochugaru (Korean red chili flakes)
- 3 tablespoons maesilcheong (Korean plum extract)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (or granulated sugar)
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons rice wine (mirin or cooking wine)
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped Cheongyang chili peppers (optional, for extra heat)
- A pinch of black pepper
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped scallions
- A drizzle of sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt
Clam Boiling- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice wine (mirin or cooking wine)
Seasoning Sauce- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon anchovy sauce (fish sauce)
- 5 tablespoons gochugaru (Korean red chili flakes)
- 3 tablespoons maesilcheong (Korean plum extract)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (or granulated sugar)
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons rice wine (mirin or cooking wine)
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped Cheongyang chili peppers (optional, for extra heat)
- A pinch of black pepper
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped scallions
- A drizzle of sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon anchovy sauce (fish sauce)
- 5 tablespoons gochugaru (Korean red chili flakes)
- 3 tablespoons maesilcheong (Korean plum extract)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (or granulated sugar)
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons rice wine (mirin or cooking wine)
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped Cheongyang chili peppers (optional, for extra heat)
- A pinch of black pepper
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped scallions
- A drizzle of sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare your fresh vegetables. Finely chop the scallions. Julienne the carrot into thin strips for a crisp texture. Coarsely chop the lettuce leaves to add a satisfying chew.
Step 2
Let’s make the flavorful seasoning sauce! Combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl. Stir well until everything is thoroughly mixed. This sauce is the heart of your bibimbap, so feel free to adjust the spice and sweetness to your liking.
Step 3
Properly clean the clams to ensure the best taste. Rinse the ark clams under cold running water several times to remove any sand or debris. Then, add 1 tablespoon of coarse sea salt to the clams and cover the bowl with a black plastic bag. Let them sit in a dark place for at least 2 hours to purge any grit. After purging, gently rub the clams together under running water to scrub away any remaining impurities. Your clams are now ready!
Step 4
Now, let’s cook the clams to perfection. Place the cleaned clams in a pot and add enough water to cover them. Stir in 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and 2 tablespoons of rice wine. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring gently in one direction to prevent the shells from breaking too much. Once about 5 to 7 clams begin to open, immediately turn off the heat and carefully remove the clams. Overcooking will make them tough.
Step 5
A little tip for boiling clams! While boiling with just coarse salt is common, you can enhance the flavor by adding ingredients like Cheongyang peppers or honey. As demonstrated here, adding soy sauce, rice wine, or even a splash of soju or cheongju helps remove any fishy odor and adds a deeper taste. Experiment with different additions to find your favorite way to boil clams.
Step 6
Once the clams are cooked, let them cool slightly without rinsing them in cold water. As they cool, carefully open the shells and extract the tender clam meat. Try not to break the delicate meat. If you prefer, you can also serve them with the shells on.
Step 7
Here we have the plump, succulent clam meat, all extracted from their shells! They already look delicious, but they’re about to get even better when mixed with our special sauce.
Step 8
It’s time to mix the clams with the seasoning! Add the chopped scallions and about two-thirds of the prepared seasoning sauce to the clam meat. It’s best to start with less sauce and add more later, as you can always add more but can’t take it away. This prevents the dish from becoming too salty.
Step 9
Gently toss the clam meat with the sauce until evenly coated. Be careful not to mash the delicate clam meat. Ensure the flavors penetrate the clams, creating a mouthwatering clam salad.
Step 10
Use the remaining one-third of the seasoning sauce to flavor your rice. Add this sauce, along with a little more chopped scallion, to your warm rice and mix well. This creates a delicious base for your bibimbap, infused with the savory flavor of the clams.
Step 11
Finally, assemble your bibimbap! Artfully arrange the seasoned clam mixture, chopped lettuce, and julienned carrots over the seasoned rice. Serve the rice with the toppings, and mix everything together to enjoy a delightful combination of flavors and textures. You can also add roasted seaweed flakes or a fried egg for extra enjoyment!
Step 12
Don’t skip the finely chopped Cheongyang peppers – they add a wonderful kick! The rich, spicy, and savory seasoned clams perfectly complement the rice, creating a balanced and incredibly satisfying dish. This clam bibimbap is the perfect way to awaken your appetite this winter!
