Japanese Steamed Seafood in Kelp Boats Recipe
Serves/Makes: 4
Ingredients:
- 1/3 pound littleneck or cherrystone clams (about 4 clams)
- 4 to 8 mussels
- 4 to 8 sea scallops, halved, or 1/4 pound baby scallops
- 8 to 12 medium-size raw shrimps, peeled and deveined
- 2 or 3 fresh or thawed frozen king crab legs (optional), cut into 3-inch pieces
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 (3-ounce) package good-quality wide dashi konbu (dried kelp), cut into 4 (8×6-inch) pieces
- 8 (7-inch) dried-gourd strips (kampyo), soaked in salted water
- 4 teaspoons sake
- 4 teaspoons unsalted butter
- Scalloped lemon slices
How to cook Japanese Steamed Seafood in Kelp Boats:
- Using a stiff brush, scrub clams under cool running water. Discard any that do not snap shut as you begin scrubbing.
- Scrub mussels under cool running water. If necessary, pull off bread or strands coming from shells. Make sure mussels are closed tightly; discard any that are not. Refrigerate until needed.
- Place clams in a large bowl; add salt and cover with cool water. Soak 3 to 4 hours.
- To soften dried konbu, dip pieces into a large bowl of warm water. Gently flex pieces 1 minute or until they begin to soften. Do not soak too long or konbu softens, losing its flavor in the water. Pat dry.
- Gather each end of a piece of konbu; tie with 2 strips of soaked gourd.
- Form konbu into a boat shape. Form 3 more boats with remaining konbu pieces and gourd strips.
- Into each boat, put 1 clam, 1 or 2 mussels, 4 half pieces of scallop or several baby scallops and 2 or 3 shrimps.
- Using kitchen scissors, snip open shell of each piece of crab leg; leave meat in shell. Add 1 or 2 pieces to each boat.
- In a wok or deep pot, bring about 4 cups water to a boil. Place seafood boats on a steamer tray.
- Add 1 teaspoon sake, 1 teaspoon soy sauce and 1 teaspoon butter to each boat.
- Cover tray. Place over boiling water; steam seafood 5 to 8 minutes or until clams and mussels have opened.
- Garnish with lemon slices. Serve immediately. Instruct diners to dip seafood into the delicious broth that has formed in bottom of boats.
Note:
The Japanese name for the Steamed Seafood in Kelp Boats recipe is Sakana No Konbu Bune.
This recipe for Japanese Steamed Seafood in Kelp Boats serves/makes: 4
Main Ingredient: Seafood Mix
Preparation Method: Steamed
Cuisine: Japanese