Orginally published on September 13, 2008. Updated with new photos.
If you love Japanese restaurants, especially Japanese izakaya (casual restaurants serving yakitori, grilled foods and sake), I am sure you know this classic Japanese steamed clams dish. It’s called sari no sakamushi, a personal favorite that I never miss out whenever I dine at izakaya.
I first experienced Japanese izakaya dining when I visited Tokyo. During the trip, I had numerous meals at an izakaya in a small alley right next to my hotel. Sitting on a tatami mat and dined from a low table in a traditional Japanese setting, my host introduced me to yakitori, steamed clams, chicken karaage, yakisoba, agedashi tofu and various mouthwatering Japanese small-plates. I was instantly hooked.
This Japanese steamed clams recipe is very easy and takes practically 10 minutes. It calls for only four (4) main ingredients: manila clams, Japanese cooking sake and mirin (sweet wine seasoning) and butter. The end result is tantalizing, and it’s especially comforting and satisfying in the colder Fall/Winter nights. Enjoy!
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Japanese Steamed Asari Clam Recipe
Japanese Steamed Clams - Manila (Asari) clams with butter, Japanese sake and mirin. Briny, delicious and takes only 10 mins.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lb Manila clams
- 1/3 stick unsalted butter
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 1/2 cup cooking sake
- 1/4 cup mirin
- Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon chopped scallion, green part only
Instructions
-
Clean the clams thoroughly and set aside. Heat up a saucepan on medium heat and add the butter. As soon as the butter melts, transfer the clams into the pan and do a few quick stirs. Add the water, sake, and mirin into the clams and cover the pan with its lid. Turn the heat to high and bring the clams to boil. As soon as all the clams are open, add in salt to taste. Dish out into a bowl, garnish with the chopped scallion, and serve immediately.
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Japanese Food Restaurant
Thank you!! Yes, this is very tasty and flavorful dish. I really like it.
Pei Fen
HI Bee,
May I know if I can use oil instead go butter?
I am thinking my 79 year old father may not like the butter….
Rasa Malaysia
He won’t know. Trust me!
Sue
Hi there, what can I use instead of sake? White wine? Thank you.
Rasa Malaysia
Yes, or Chinese rice wine.
Sue
Can I replace sake with white wine? Thanks.
Rasa Malaysia
Yes.
Kate
I really love seafoods! Glad to have checked your blog.
Cynthia
I continue to be jealous of the seafood you have access to.
diva
japanese dining is beautiful..so relaxed and calming. almost like an art. it’s something my family adores and follows..these clams are gorgeous! wow…it’s just hit me that i really need to go out for some awesome seafood real soon.
Anonymous
I love steamed asari clams! The recipe sounds really simple, now all I have to do is buy some clams and the sake and mirin and follow your recipe and I will have a home-cooked steamed asari clams. Thanks so much!
Junebug
Finally a great steamed asari clams recipe that I can try at home. At Japanese izakaya, this is an expensive dish to order and you only get a few steamed asari clams with little soup.
[eatingclub] vancouver || js
This is one of my favourite clam dishes. I would just slurp everything up, no time to talk, which kind of defeats the purpose of izakaya, doesn’t it? ;)
Rasa Malaysia
Hi all – thanks for your comments. :)
Fearless Kitchen
This looks absolutely delicious. I’ve been going through a shellfish phase recently and this looks like it would fit the bill just right!
mycookinghut
Absolutely delicious! I would do the same with the broth!!
Maya
Bee,
This sounds wonderful! I am a huge fan of shellfish.
tigerfish
Miss Izakaya terribly….:(
babe_kl
i can imagine the broth to taste sweet naturally! brilliant indeed
OkiHwn
One of my favorite dishes!
SteamyKitchen
It was soooo good to see you again!!
xoxox, j
Manggy
It looks delicious Bee! The butter is a surprising twist.
Barbara
Mmmm, sounds like a great night.