Manila Clams with Black Bean Sauce

First posted on 12/3/2008. A recipe worth re-visiting.

This recipe draws inspiration from my favorite tilapia fillets with black bean sauce and from our recent weekend dimsum trip. My daughter and I had already shared a delicious bounty of shrimp walnut, congee topped with crisp wonton skins, crispy-fried smelt, sauteed duo miao, braised chicken feet and char sui, and were full to our gills when a food server wheeled in platters of clams with black bean sauce. I was piqued and even considered ordering one to sample but we were way too gorged to take another bite. Yesterday, however, I found live manila clams for sale at Seafood City and decided to re-create the dish at home. Yum! It was wild and spicy and perfect with steamed white rice!

Makes 4 Servings

Ingredients

2 dozens manila clams
1/2 cup fermented black beans
1/2 bell pepper, seeded and cut into thick strips
1 tbsp chili garlic sauce
1 thumb-size ginger, peeled and minced
1 tbsp light soy sauce
2 tbsps rice cooking wine (Shao Hsing )
1 cup chicken broth or water
1 tsp sesame oil
cooking oil

Procedure

Under cold running water, scrub the outside of the clams with a stiff brush. Drain well.

Rinse the fermented black beans. Set aside.

In a bowl, combine chicken broth, chili garlic paste, rice wine and soy sauce. Set aside.

In a skillet or wok, heat oil over high heat. Saute sliced bell peppers until tender but crisp. Remove and keep warm.

Saute ginger until aromatic. Add in clams and continue to stir for 3 to 5 minutes or until shells start to open.

Pour in broth mixture. Add in black beans and stir to combine. Cover and continue to cook until shells open. Mix in bell peppers. Just before serving, drizzle in sesame oil to coat. Serve hot.

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Written by Lalaine · Filed Under Asian Flair, Beans and Legumes, Fish and Seafood, Piping Hot

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6 Responses to “Manila Clams with Black Bean Sauce”

Ben on December 4th, 2008 3:00 pm

Now this is a clam recipe I’d love to try without hesitation. Yum!
Fearless Kitchen on December 4th, 2008 4:28 pm

This looks great. I’ve never even thought of combining clams with black bean sauce before, but it looks delightful.
Lalaine on December 5th, 2008 6:28 pm

Hi!

It was so good! And steamed white rice was just the right backdrop for the strong flavors of the dish.
syrie on December 6th, 2008 3:15 am

I love pipis so much. These look perfect!
gaga on December 9th, 2008 4:08 am

Yum, that looks delicious. I tend to like to add a few chilis to mine to make it spicy =)
Jude on December 9th, 2008 7:21 pm

Love the sweet-salty taste that black beans add to food. Also love that black bean dish with sitaw. So good with rice.