Stir-Fried Zucchini with Clams
Stir-Fried Zucchini with Clams
The Tastiest Side Dish with Seasonal Zucchini! Try This Delicious Stir-Fried Zucchini and Clam Recipe
This stir-fried zucchini, made with fresh, seasonal zucchini, is incredibly delicious and packed with savory flavor. The sweetness of the zucchini combined with the briny clams creates a wonderfully balanced dish. It’s a perfect side dish to accompany any meal, especially rice. A touch of perilla oil and perilla seeds adds a nutty aroma, making it even more irresistible. Give this simple yet flavorful recipe a try!
Ingredients- 200g Round Zucchini (about 1/2 medium)
- 100g Shelled Clams (about 1/2 cup)
- 3 Tbsp Cooking Oil
- 100g Onion (about 1/4 medium)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1/2 Tbsp Salted Shrimp (Saeu-jeot)
- 8 Tbsp Water
- 1 Tbsp Perilla Oil (Deulgireum)
- 1 Tbsp Perilla Seed Powder (Deulkkaetgaru)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare all your ingredients. Wash the round zucchini thoroughly. Slice the onion (about 1/4 medium). If using pre-shelled clams, rinse them gently under running water 1-2 times. If using fresh clams, soak them in lightly salted water to purge any sand, then rinse them well.
Step 2
Cut the washed zucchini into bite-sized pieces. Slice it in half, then cut each half into half-moon shapes, about 0.5 cm thick. Avoid slicing them too thinly, as they might break apart during cooking.
Step 3
Slice the onion into similar-sized strips, about 0.5 cm thick. Cutting the vegetables into uniform sizes ensures they cook evenly and look appealing.
Step 4
Now, let’s start stir-frying. Heat the pan over medium heat and add 3 tablespoons of cooking oil. Once the oil is shimmering, add the sliced onions and stir-fry until they become translucent and slightly softened. Sautéing the onions well brings out their natural sweetness and adds depth of flavor.
Step 5
Once the onions are nicely sautéed, add 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Step 6
Add the 200g of sliced zucchini to the pan and stir-fry with the onions and garlic. As the zucchini starts to turn slightly transparent, add 1/2 tablespoon of salted shrimp (saeu-jeot) for umami and seasoning. Stir well to combine. Adjust the amount of salted shrimp to your taste.
Step 7
When the zucchini is partially cooked, add the 100g of shelled clams (about 1/2 cup). Stir everything together gently to distribute the clams evenly.
Step 8
After stir-frying for a minute or two, carefully pour in 8 tablespoons of water. Bring the mixture to a simmer. It’s best to cook this over medium heat rather than high to allow the flavors to meld.
Step 9
To ensure the zucchini is perfectly tender, cover the pan and let it steam for 1-2 minutes. This steaming process will help the zucchini cook through evenly and absorb the flavors from the other ingredients.
Step 10
Remove the lid and stir in 1 tablespoon of perilla oil (deulgireum) and 1 tablespoon of perilla seed powder (deulkkaetgaru). These additions will give the dish a wonderfully nutty aroma and flavor. Give it a final quick stir to combine.
Step 11
Your delicious stir-fried zucchini with clams is ready! This flavorful and healthy side dish is perfect served with a bowl of hot rice. Enjoy this taste of fresh, seasonal ingredients!
