Thai Clam Pot Variation Recipes

FRAGRANT THAI-STYLE CLAMS IN COCONUT BROTH

Steps:

• Heat coconut oil in a heavy-bottomed soup pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add chicken broth and bring to a simmer.
• Add lemongrass, galangal, ginger, chiles, lime leaves, sugar and fish sauce. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add coconut milk, then taste broth for salt and adjust. (You may prepare up to this point 1 to 2 hours in advance and leave at room temperature.)
• Bring mixture to a boil over high heat and add clams. Cover and cook for 5 to 8 minutes, stirring once or twice, until all clams have opened.
• Transfer clams to soup bowls. Strain broth if desired and ladle over clams. Sprinkle with cilantro and scallions. Squeeze lime over each bowl and serve with lime wedges.

HOY LAI PAD NAM PRIK POW (CLAMS WITH CHILI PASTE AND BASIL)

Steps:

• Heat a large heavy-bottomed pan or wok over high heat; add the oil and wait 1 minute more. Mix garlic into the hot oil and cook until it just turns golden brown, about 1 minute. Add clams and chile paste; stir until clams are coated.
• Stir fish sauce, chiles, and sugar into clams; cook and stir until the clams have opened, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Mix basil into clam mixture and cook until wilted, about 1 minute.

INSTANT POT THAI COCONUT CLAMS

Steps:

• Using the sauté function, heat the oil in the pressure cooker. Add the shallots and sauté until they are soft and browned at the edges, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, peel the outer layers from the lemongrass stalk and smash the inner core with the side of a heavy knife to bruise it (this helps release the flavor). Finely chop the core.
• Add the lemongrass to the pot along with the stock, ginger, jalapeños, fish sauce, and brown sugar. Stir until the sugar has dissolved, and then bring the sauce up to a simmer, and simmer for 1 minute. Stir in the coconut milk and simmer until it has reduced by a third and is beginning to thicken, 5 minutes.
• Add the clams, cover, and cook on low pressure for 1 minute. Release the pressure manually. Discard any clams that didn't open. Taste the sauce, and season it with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve the clams in bowls, spooning some broth over them and garnishing with the scallion, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice.