Steamed Red Scallops: Sweet and Chewy Delicacy
A Special Dish: Sweet and Chewy Steamed Red Scallops
Feast on the delicious taste of red scallops in season with this wonderful steamed red scallop recipe! Red scallops are best enjoyed from November to December. Steamed to perfection, they offer a delightful sweetness and chewy texture that is truly satisfying. Enjoy this simple yet impressive dish!
Ingredients
- 2kg fresh Red Scallops
- 2 cups water
- 2 shots soju (or Korean rice wine/cheongju)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Red scallops usually don’t require pre-soaking to purge sand, but if you prefer, you can soak them in cold water for about 10 minutes. Covering the container with a dark-colored bag can encourage the scallops to open their shells more readily.
Step 2
Rinse the scallops under running water, using a brush to gently scrub the shells to remove any dirt or grit. This ensures they are clean and ready for steaming.
Step 3
In a pot, combine 2 cups of water and 2 shots (about 100ml) of soju or cheongju. Bring this mixture to a rolling boil over high heat. The soju or cheongju helps to eliminate any fishy odors and adds a subtle depth of flavor. If you prefer not to use alcohol, you can substitute with cooking wine or simply omit it.
Step 4
Once the water is boiling and steaming vigorously, arrange the cleaned red scallops on a steamer rack. Place them with the opening facing upwards; this allows the steam and juices to circulate evenly inside, resulting in more succulent scallops. Since 2kg is a generous amount, they might overlap slightly. Try to arrange them as flat as possible.
Step 5
Cover the pot with a lid and steam over high heat for about 12 minutes. After steaming, turn off the heat and let the scallops rest (steam) for an additional 5 minutes. (A general guideline is 10 minutes of steaming followed by 3 minutes of resting, but for a larger batch or overlapped scallops, 12 minutes steaming and 5 minutes resting works well.) This resting period allows the scallops to finish cooking gently and become incredibly tender and moist inside. They will open their shells towards the sky, looking beautifully ready to eat!
