Delicious Cockle Bibimbap Recipe with Seasonal Cockles
The Perfect Time! Delicious One-Bowl Meal: Cockle Bibimbap
Using fresh, plump cockles that are in season, create a visually appealing and nutritious bowl of cockle bibimbap. Utilizing pre-cooked (steamed) cockles makes this dish incredibly easy and quick to prepare, making it a wonderful special meal even on busy days.
Cockle Bibimbap Ingredients- 5 packs (packages) of steamed cockles
- 1/2 medium onion
- 1/4 red bell pepper
- 1 Korean chili pepper (optional, for a spicier kick)
- 1 green chili pepper (optional, for added aroma)
- 2 handfuls of chives
- 1/2 large green onion
- 3.5 bowls of warm cooked rice
Cockle Seasoning Sauce Ingredients- 5-6 Tbsp soy sauce (adjust to taste)
- 2 Tbsp soup soy sauce (Guk-ganjang)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp oligodang (corn syrup/oligosaccharide, adjust sweetness)
- 2 Tbsp mirin (or cooking sake)
- 4-5 Tbsp red pepper flakes (Gochugaru, adjust spiciness)
- 2 Tbsp anchovy extract (for umami)
- 1 Tbsp plum extract (Maesil-cheong, for sweet and sour notes)
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds (for nutty flavor)
- 5-6 Tbsp soy sauce (adjust to taste)
- 2 Tbsp soup soy sauce (Guk-ganjang)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp oligodang (corn syrup/oligosaccharide, adjust sweetness)
- 2 Tbsp mirin (or cooking sake)
- 4-5 Tbsp red pepper flakes (Gochugaru, adjust spiciness)
- 2 Tbsp anchovy extract (for umami)
- 1 Tbsp plum extract (Maesil-cheong, for sweet and sour notes)
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil
- A pinch of toasted sesame seeds (for nutty flavor)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, rinse the steamed cockles gently under running water to remove any impurities. Drain them well and set aside. Finely chop the onion, red bell pepper, Korean chili pepper, green chili pepper, chives, and green onion. Finely dicing the vegetables ensures they mix well with the cockles and sauce, making them easier to eat. In a separate bowl, combine all the ingredients for the cockle seasoning sauce and mix thoroughly with a spoon until well incorporated. Make sure there are no lumps in the sauce.
Step 2
In a large mixing bowl, add the drained steamed cockles. Pour about half of the prepared cockle seasoning sauce over the cockles. Gently mix with your hands, ‘job-job-job’ style, to coat the cockles evenly with the sauce. Be careful not to break the cockles while mixing.
Step 3
Instead of adding all the sauce at once, it’s best to add about half first, mix well with the cockles, and then taste to adjust the seasoning. Adjust the amount of sauce based on the saltiness of the cockles and your personal preference. Add more sauce gradually if needed until it tastes just right. Be mindful not to make it too salty; this is the key to a delicious dish.
Step 4
The cockles, seasoned and mixed this way, make a fantastic side dish on their own! The savory, spicy, and sweet sauce coats the chewy cockle meat perfectly, making it a delicious accompaniment to rice or even as a snack with drinks. If the mixture seems a bit dry, you can add a little more olive oil or sesame oil.
Step 5
Now, let’s complete the delicious cockle bibimbap. In a large bowl, place a generous portion of warm cooked rice. Top the rice with the flavorful seasoned cockle mixture. For extra flair, you can sprinkle finely chopped chives as a garnish or some crispy seaweed flakes. Finally, sprinkle a good amount of toasted sesame seeds for a nutty aroma. Your visually appealing and hearty cockle bibimbap is now ready! Mix everything together well before enjoying this delightful meal.
