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Kkomak-jjim (Seasoned Steamed Cockles)

Kkomak-jjim (Seasoned Steamed Cockles)

Created by Chef Jeong-sun

Plump winter cockles from the southern mudflats, cooked only until they open, then served in their half shells with a restrained soy, scallion, garlic, and sesame dressing.

Main Dishes
Korean
Comfort Food
Special Occasion
2 hr 25 min
Active Time
8 min cook2 hr 33 min total
Yield4 servings as a side or 2 as a main

Kkomak belongs to winter and to the southern mudflats. Cook the month you're standing in. When the cockles are good, their shells are heavy for their size and the meat inside is sweet, mineral, and firm. When they are not good, no amount of soy sauce will rescue them, and my teacher would have sent them back without a word.

Ingredients

fresh live cockles (kkomak)

Quantity

1 kg

cold water

Quantity

8 cups

for purging

coarse sea salt

Quantity

4 tablespoons

for purging

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