Tender & Savory Cockle Salad (Ggomak Muchim)
The Ultimate Rice Thief! Delicious Cockle Salad Recipe
As the weather gets a bit chilly, there’s one side dish I always crave: cockle salad! The plump, tender cockles coated in a savory, flavorful sauce are absolutely divine with a bowl of steamed rice. Lately, my busy schedule has had me buying side dishes, but I decided it was time to make a homemade one. Let’s create a delightful side dish with fresh cockles!
Main Ingredients- Cockles (Ggomak) 0.6~1kg
- Coarse salt 2 Tbsp (for purging)
- Salt 1 pinch (for seasoning)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
The most crucial first step before making cockle salad is purging the cockles. Fill a bowl with enough water to cover the cockles completely, then add 2 tablespoons of coarse salt. Let them purge for at least 2 hours, or until they expel any grit. If the water becomes cloudy, changing it once can help.
Step 2
Once purged, rinse the cockles thoroughly under clean running water to remove any remaining dirt. Place the rinsed cockles directly into boiling water and cook. When you see them starting to open, turn off the heat immediately. Be careful not to overcook, as they can become tough.
Step 3
Immediately after boiling, give the cockles a refreshing rinse in cold water to cool them down – this is their ‘cold shower’! Drain them well in a colander and set aside.
Step 4
Now, let’s make the flavorful seasoning sauce that will make this cockle salad shine! In a bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of minced green onion, 1/2 tablespoon of red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon of ground sesame seeds, and a pinch of salt for seasoning.
Step 5
Add 6 tablespoons of soy sauce for that savory depth, 1 tablespoon of oligosaccharide for a touch of sweetness, and 1 tablespoon of sesame oil for a nutty aroma.
Step 6
Finally, add 1/2 tablespoon of minced garlic and stir everything together thoroughly until well combined. And just like that, your delicious cockle salad dressing is ready!
Step 7
Now it’s time to prepare the cockle meat. After boiling, use the slightly opened shell as a leverage point, or carefully use a spoon to pry open one side of the shell and extract the meat. Try to handle the cockle meat gently to prevent it from breaking.
Step 8
Arrange the extracted cockle meat neatly in a serving bowl. Drizzle the prepared seasoning sauce evenly over the cockles. Gently toss the cockles to ensure they are well coated with the delicious sauce.
Step 9
By layering the cockles and sauce, you’ll create a visually appealing ‘cockle salad tower’! Just looking at it makes you want a bowl of rice, doesn’t it? Enjoy this delightful cockle salad with freshly cooked warm rice. It’s sure to awaken your appetite!
