Tender Marinated Cockles (Ggomak)
Delicious Marinated Cockles Using Seasonal Catch! Learn the Secrets to Boiling Cockles.
This year is a great year for cockles, with many sales available! I recently bought 2kg of cockles during a special offer and made delicious marinated cockles and cockle bibimbap. The chewy cockle meat combined with the sweet, sour, and spicy seasoning is a true rice thief. This recipe covers everything from cleaning and boiling cockles to a flavorful sauce.
Main Ingredients- 2kg Cockles
- 1/2 cup Rice wine or Mirin (for boiling cockles)
Seasoning Ingredients- 1 Tbsp Fish Sauce (anchovy or sand lance)
- 1 Tbsp Korean Soy Sauce (for soup)
- 1/2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes, adjust to taste)
- 1/2 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Plum Extract (Maesilcheong)
- 1/2 Tbsp Mirin or Cooking Sake (for sweetness and flavor)
- 1/3 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 Red Chili Pepper (seeds removed, finely chopped)
- A little Green Onion or Chives (finely chopped)
- 1 Tbsp Fish Sauce (anchovy or sand lance)
- 1 Tbsp Korean Soy Sauce (for soup)
- 1/2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes, adjust to taste)
- 1/2 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Plum Extract (Maesilcheong)
- 1/2 Tbsp Mirin or Cooking Sake (for sweetness and flavor)
- 1/3 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 Red Chili Pepper (seeds removed, finely chopped)
- A little Green Onion or Chives (finely chopped)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Properly cleaning the cockles is crucial before cooking, otherwise, the gritty sand can make them unpalatable. First, place the cockles in a container and add a generous amount of coarse salt. Rub the cockles together vigorously with your hands to clean them. This friction helps to effectively remove the sand and dirt. Rinse them multiple times with clean water to wash away any remaining grit. (Tip: I accidentally scratched a new bowl while doing this; I recommend using a sturdy bowl or plastic container!)
Step 2
After rinsing the cockles about three times, place them in water with a little dissolved coarse salt. Cover the container with a black plastic bag and let them purge for about 2-3 hours. This purging process allows the cockles to release any remaining sand, ensuring a cleaner taste. After about two hours, you’ll notice that impurities and sand have risen to the surface, as shown in the photo. Rinse them thoroughly with clean water a couple more times to complete the purging.
Step 3
Now it’s time to boil the cockles. Fill a pot with plenty of water and bring it to a rolling boil. Once the water starts to bubble vigorously, add the prepared cockles. To eliminate any fishy odor and enhance the flavor, add about half a cup of rice wine or mirin. I used mirin for this recipe.
Step 4
The key to boiling cockles is to stir them in only one direction! This technique helps the cockle meat cling to one side of the shell, making it easier to open later. As soon as the cockles begin to open their shells, turn off the heat and let them sit for a moment. The residual heat will cook them perfectly.
Step 5
Drain the boiled cockles using a colander and let them cool slightly. For marinated cockles, you can remove just one shell. However, if you plan to make cockle bibimbap as well, remove both shells as shown in the photo. Since I had 2kg, I had plenty to use for multiple dishes.
Step 6
Now it’s time to mix the marinated cockles! Place all the shelled cockle meat in a bowl. Add all the prepared seasoning ingredients. Be gentle when mixing to avoid crushing the cockle meat; use chopsticks or a spatula to lightly toss them. Ensure the seasoning is evenly distributed for a delicious marinated cockle dish.
Step 7
Optionally, sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top at the very end for an extra touch of aroma and nutty flavor. Give it another gentle toss to incorporate.
Step 8
Here is the delicious marinated cockle dish, made with fresh, seasonal cockles! You can enjoy this as a side dish as is, or use some of it to make a flavorful cockle bibimbap by mixing it with rice. It’s a perfect dish to enjoy when you have a lack of appetite or want something special.
