Steamers With Asian Broth And Cilantro Butter Food

STEAMED CLAMS WITH CILANTRO BUTTER

Steps:

• Place broth and butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat.
• When butter is melted, add the green onions, cilantro, garlic, cumin and lime juice and bring to a boil.
• Add clams and cook about 5-7 minutes or until clams open. Discard any unopened clams.

STEAMERS

Steps:

• At least 1 hour before cooking clams, mix the kosher salt and cornmeal into 1 gallon of water and soak the clams. Do not use iodized salt as it will instantly kill the clams.
• In a steamer or large pot set over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the shallots and leeks and saute until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients, except bread, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and add the clams and mussels. Cover with a tight fitting lid and steam over low heat until clams and mussels have opened, about 5 to 10 minutes. Discard any clams or mussels that have not opened.
• Transfer to serving bowls and ladle with broth. Serve hot with crusty bread to soak up the broth.

CANTONESE STEAMED FISH

Steps:

• Cut the scallions into 2-inch lengths, and cut the pieces in half lengthwise. Julienne them thinly. Thinly slice about 15g of ginger, and julienne them. Give the cilantro a rough chop. Set the aromatics aside.
• Combine the light soy sauce, salt, sugar and hot water in a small bowl and mix until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Set aside.
• Prepare your steaming set-up, and fill with 1-2 inches of water. Bring to a boil.
• Rinse your fish fillet, and carefully lay it on an oblong heat-proof plate that will fit into your wok or steaming setup. Carefully place it in the steamer, and adjust the heat to medium. The water should be at a slow boil that generates a good amount of steam, but not so high that the water evaporates too quickly.
• Cover and steam for 7-10 minutes depending upon the size and thickness of your fish fillet. If you have extremely small, thin fillets (half an inch), cook for 4-5 minutes. Check for doneness using a butter knife. If it falls easily through the thickest part of the fillet to the bottom of the plate, the fish is done.
• Turn off the heat, and carefully drain any liquid on the plate. Spread about ⅓ of the scallions, ginger, and cilantro on the steamed fish (alternatively, you can wait to do this AFTER adding the sauce).
• To make the sauce, heat a wok or small saucepan to medium high heat, and add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Add the remaining ⅔ of the ginger, and fry for 1 minute. Add the white parts of the scallions and cook for 30 seconds.Then add rest of the scallions and cilantro. The mixture should be sizzling.
• Add the soy sauce mixture. Bring the mixture to a bubble, and cook until the scallions and cilantro are just wilted, about 30 seconds.
• Pour this mixture over the fish. If you prefer to add the raw aromatics after adding the sauce, you can do so now, and heat an additional 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to pour over the raw aromatics. Serve immediately!

PACIFIC NORTHWEST MICROWBREW STEAMERS WITH BREAD

Steps:

• In a large non-reactive pot with lid, melt butter.
• Add garlic, pepper, shallots, tarragon, thyme, parsley, chives and beer.
• Heat just to a simmer and stir in mussels or clams.
• Cover and steam 4-7 minutes till shells have opened.
• Discard any that have not opened.
• Put clams in individual bowls and ladle broth over.
• Serve with crusty bread for sopping.

STEAMERS AND BROTH

Steps:

• Begin by cleaning the steamers in a large pot filled with the vinegar and ice cold water to cover. Discard any clams that rise to the surface, they are not alive. Allow the steamers to soak for at least 30 minutes, then rinse in cold water and drain in a large colander.
• *Vinegar is the secret to de-sanding steamers during the cleaning process. Live steamers dislike an acidic enviroment, and will naturally purge themselves of any excess sand.
• Fill a tall, narrow pot with 2 inches of water and the celery and bring to a rapid boil. Carefully add the steamers to the pot, so that the shells do not break. Cover and cook over high heat for 8 minutes, or until the shells open; discard any that don't open. Meanwhile, melt the butter over low heat in a medium saucepan and divide among 6 small bowls.
• Transfer the cooked steamers to medium serving bowls, discard the celery, and ladle the steamer broth (the water left in the pot)into separate small bowls. Serve immediately with the melted butter and more bowls for discarding the shells.
• *To eat pull the steamer from its shell, dipping it in the warm steamer broth water to remove any remaining sand, then dipping it in melted butter, and finally eating it as you pull the skin off the neck of the clam.