Savory and Refreshing Clam Roe Salad
A Non-Salty, Clean-Flavored Clam Roe Salad Recipe
On a recent trip to Shindo Island to buy grapes, I picked up some fresh clam roe. Marinating and mixing it after a long time resulted in a delicious side dish that’s not too salty! It’s also perfect wrapped in dried seaweed with rice for a satisfying meal. This is a true rice thief!
Main Ingredients- Clam roe (baži-rak joegjeot) – about 1 cup (approx. 200g)
- Green onion – 1/2 stalk
- Garlic – 6 cloves
- Korean green chili pepper – 1
- Red chili pepper – 1
- Green chili pepper – 1
- Cooking wine (e.g., Mirin) – 1 Tbsp
- Sesame oil – 1 Tbsp
- Toasted sesame seeds – a pinch
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare about 1 cup of fresh clam roe (baži-rak joegjeot). Adjusting the saltiness of the fermented clam is the key to this recipe.
Step 2
Place the clam roe in a sieve and gently rinse it under cold running water while shaking. This process helps to significantly reduce the saltiness, resulting in a clean and pleasant taste. Be careful not to rinse too vigorously, as this can break up the clam meat.
Step 3
Gently shake off excess water from the rinsed clam roe while it’s still in the sieve. If it’s too wet, the seasoning won’t adhere well. While the clam roe is draining, prepare the other ingredients.
Step 4
Thinly slice the garlic. Finely chop the Korean green chili pepper, red chili pepper, and green chili pepper. Also, finely chop the green onion. If you prefer less spiciness, you can remove the seeds from the chili peppers. Slice the white and green parts of the green onion appropriately.
Step 5
Once the clam roe has drained a bit, add 1 tablespoon of cooking wine (like Mirin) first to reduce any fishy odor and enhance the flavor. Then, add all the chopped vegetables (green onion, Korean green chili pepper, red chili pepper, green chili pepper) and mix.
Step 6
Add the thinly sliced garlic. The pungent aroma of garlic further enhances the flavor of the clam roe. Drizzle in 1 tablespoon of sesame oil. You can also add a pinch of black pepper according to your preference. (Add toasted sesame seeds if desired).
Step 7
Gently mix all the ingredients together with your hands until well combined. Avoid overmixing, which can mash the clam meat. The completed clam roe salad is not overly salty, but rich in savory flavor. Try enjoying it wrapped in dried seaweed with freshly cooked hot rice – it’s delicious!
