Tender and Delicious Seasonal Cockle Salad Recipe
Tender and Delicious Seasonal Cockle Salad Recipe
Let’s make a flavorful seasonal cockle salad with plenty of care!
Make a delicious salad with plump, in-season cockles. It takes a little effort, but it’s an irresistibly attractive side dish once you taste it. It’s a real rice thief!
Cockle Preparation- 500g fresh cockles
- 4 Tbsp coarse salt for purging
- 1 Tbsp ginger wine (for removing fishiness)
Spicy and Sweet Seasoning Sauce- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp oligo syrup (adjust sweetness)
- 1 Tbsp chopped green onion
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- A drizzle of sesame oil
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp oligo syrup (adjust sweetness)
- 1 Tbsp chopped green onion
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds
- A drizzle of sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, we’ll clean the cockles thoroughly. Add 4 tablespoons of coarse salt and scrub the cockles together, making sure to rub the shells against each other. Think of it like washing a baby’s clothes with a bit of force – this will remove any dirt from the surface. Rinse them under cold running water several times until they become milky white.
Step 2
Now, let’s proceed with purging the cleaned cockles. Prepare a saltwater solution by dissolving 3-4 tablespoons of coarse salt in cold water. Submerge the cockles completely in this saltwater.
Step 3
To allow the cockles to purge comfortably in the saltwater, cover the pot with its lid or a clean cloth. Store them in a cool, well-ventilated place for 1 to 2 hours to purge. *Important Tip: Thorough purging is crucial to ensure a clean taste without any grittiness or muddy smell, making the cockles enjoyable to eat.
Step 4
Alright, it’s time to boil the cockles. Fill a pot generously with water and bring it to a rolling boil. Once boiling, add the purged cockles and 1 tablespoon of ginger wine to help eliminate any fishiness. *Pro Tip: After adding the cockles, don’t maintain high heat; reduce the gas flame to medium-low. Boil for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Adjust the boiling time based on the size of the cockles. You can tell they’re ready when one or two shells start to open – this prevents them from becoming overcooked and tough.
Step 5
Immediately plunge the boiled cockles into cold water to cool them down. Once cooled, you can easily shuck them using a spoon. Insert the tip of the spoon into the slight indentation on the back of the cockle shell and give it a gentle twist to easily separate the shell.
Step 6
While you can remove all the cockle meat from the shells, I prefer to leave one side of the meat attached to the shell. This way, you can savor the rich, original flavor of the cockle when eating. Of course, you can adjust this based on your personal preference. If you’re preparing this for young children as a snack or side dish, I recommend removing all the meat from the shells.
Step 7
Now, let’s make the delicious seasoning sauce. In a bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of gochugaru, 1/2 tablespoon of minced garlic, 2 tablespoons of oligo syrup, 1 tablespoon of chopped green onion, and a pinch each of toasted sesame seeds and sesame oil for added aroma. Mix all the seasoning ingredients well until they are thoroughly combined. *Caution: When making the sauce, taste it and adjust the seasoning so it’s not too salty. Cockles themselves have a natural saltiness, so an overly salty sauce can spoil the dish.
Step 8
Place the prepared cockle meat into a bowl. Gradually drizzle the prepared seasoning sauce over the cockles and gently toss them together. Mix gently to ensure the sauce evenly coats the cockles without breaking them apart. *Additional Tip: If you are making a salad using only the cockle meat, add the seasoning sauce little by little while tasting. This way, you can ensure the cockle meat is seasoned perfectly, not too salty or too bland.
Step 9
Although it requires a bit of time and effort, the taste of this carefully prepared cockle salad is exceptional! You now have a wonderful seasonal cockle salad that everyone can enjoy. Enjoy your meal!
