Chewy & Delicious, Nutritious Cockles: Perfect Recipe from Purging to Delicious Seasoning
Seasonal Cockles, The Perfect Recipe for Deliciousness: From Fresh Purging to Flavorful Seasoning Preparation
Cockles are rich in iron, making them excellent for preventing anemia and beneficial for children’s growth. We’ll guide you through the secrets of purging them fresh, the best way to cook them to chewy perfection, and a fantastic seasoning sauce that will tantalize your taste buds. This recipe covers everything you need to know about cockles!
Cockle Seasoning Sauce- 4 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean Chili Flakes)
- 1 Tbsp Mirin (Sweet Rice Wine)
- 1 Tbsp Plum Extract
- 0.5 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Scallions or Red Chili
- 1 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Once you have your fresh cockles, start by gently scrubbing them under running water multiple times until the murky water, often containing mud or impurities, runs clear. For purging, fill a bowl with enough water to cover the cockles completely. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of coarse salt in the water, add the cockles, cover the bowl with a black plastic bag, and let them sit in a dark place for about 1 hour. (Pro Tip: For faster and more effective purging, place a stainless steel spoon in the water along with the cockles. This can help purge them in as little as 30 minutes!)
Step 2
While the cockles are purging, let’s prepare the fantastic seasoning sauce that will elevate their flavor even further.
Step 3
After purging, lightly rinse the cockles under cool running water. Now it’s time to cook them. Instead of dropping them into vigorously boiling water, add the cockles when the water just begins to simmer and small bubbles start to rise. This ensures their chewy texture is preserved. : )
Step 4
Once the cockles are in the pot, gently stir them in one direction. This technique helps prevent the shells from separating as they cook, ensuring they remain attached and are easier to handle later.
Step 5
As the water comes to a boil and one or two cockle shells begin to open, immediately remove them from the heat! Overcooking can make the cockles tough and diminish their delicious flavor, so be mindful of the cooking time.
Step 6
Don’t discard the water the cockles were cooked in! This flavorful cockle broth is perfect for rinsing away any lingering fine debris inside the shells. Washing the cockles with plain water can make them taste bland, so be sure to use the cooking liquid.
Step 7
Carefully pry open one shell of a cooked cockle and arrange them neatly in a serving dish, resembling a blooming flower. This presentation adds to the enjoyment.
Step 8
Drizzle or spoon the prepared seasoning sauce over the cockles, adding a touch of flavor to each one. Your visually appealing and incredibly delicious cockle dish is now ready.
Step 9
Savor the taste of the sea that fills your mouth! Enjoy the fun of popping them out of their shells, and indulge in the wonderfully chewy and tender texture of these delicious cockles. You won’t be able to stop at just one!
