Clear & Spicy! How to Make Seasonal Clam Soup (Perfect Soju Snack & Hangover Cure!)
A recipe for refreshing and spicy clam soup made with plump, seasonal clams. It’s the best as a side dish for drinks or as a hearty hangover soup!
Aren’t the clams delicious these days, plump and full of flavor? Today, I’ll show you how to easily make a delicious clam soup that’s perfect as a drink accompaniment. This clear and refreshing soup is excellent for curing a hangover, but its clean taste also makes it the ultimate soju snack. Enjoy a delightful meal with this clear and refreshing clam soup!
Ingredients- Fresh clams 600g
- Clear water 3 cups (approx. 600ml)
- Minced garlic 1/2 tsp
- Scallions 3 stalks
- Dried red chili 1 (or 1/2 Cheongyang chili)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare your fresh clams. Clams can sometimes contain sand or not be fully purged, so soak them in cold water with a pinch of salt. Cover the bowl with a black bag and let them purge for about 30 minutes. After purging, rinse the clams thoroughly under running water. Since this is intended as a snack with soju, adding chopped Cheongyang chili or preparing dried chili will make the soup spicier and more enjoyable. (For this recipe, we’ve prepared 1 dried red chili.)
Step 2
Place all the rinsed clams into a pot and pour in 3 cups (approx. 600ml) of clear water. You can adjust the amount of water to your preference, but too much can dilute the fresh clam flavor. Use a moderate amount.
Step 3
Now, place the pot on the stove over high heat and bring it to a boil. Clam soup can easily boil over if you’re not watching, so keep an eye on it. Once the soup starts to boil, skim off any foam or impurities that rise to the surface with a spoon. This will make the soup clearer and cleaner.
Step 4
As the clams begin to open their shells one by one, add the minced garlic (1/2 tsp), chopped scallions, and the dried chili (or minced Cheongyang chili). After adding the ingredients, let it simmer for just a brief moment, one more boil. This step allows the flavors of the ingredients to meld into the soup.
Step 5
If you overcook clam soup, the clam meat can become tough and lose its flavor. Once all the clams have opened and the ingredients have blended, turn off the heat immediately. Enjoy your delicious clam soup!
