Filipino Sautéed Marinated Clams...

This delicious clam dish is often enjoyed by Filipinos as clams are abundantly harvested along reefs or farmed for restaurants and grocers. It is ideal for a weeknight meal as it only uses a few simple ingredients to whip up- the key is the vinegar marinade. Cane vinegar is an important ingredient in Filipino cooking which is used to keep food from spoiling in the hot and humid Phillipines.  Tossed with breadcrumbs to thicken, it makes for a light but hearty and satisfying dish served over steamed rice.

Filipino Sautéed Marinated Clams
Makes 4 servings

1 Tbsp. oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, sliced
340 g to 1 lb. canned, fresh or frozen clam meat, thawed
1/3 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. brown sugar
1 to 2 tsp. soy sauce to taste
Marinade:
3 Tbsp. cane vinegar 
1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1 dried bay leaf
tomato slices, sliced green onion and chopped cilantro as garnish 

Cook's NOTE: Best substitutions for cane vinegar are white vinegar, white wine vinegar or cider vinegar but dilute with 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water. 

Combine the marinade ingredients in a bowl and add the clams to marinate for one hour.

Heat oil in skillet over medium heat and sauté the garlic and onions until lightly browned. Add the clams and cook for five minutes or until tender. Add the breadcrumbs, salt, brown sugar and soy sauce, and cook for 5 minutes more, stirring occasionally. It will thicken. Remove into serving vessel, and garnish with tomatoes, green onions and cilantro if desired.

Sweet and savoury clams served with pan-fried marinated milkfish (bangus), the national fish of the Philippines, which I bought frozen in an Asian supermarket, grilled chicken breast (in case the kids didn't like the clams) and stir-fried cabbage. Vinegar soy dip in my Filipino feast post is great for spooning over the clams instead of adding the soy sauce in the recipe! The kids were not fond of this particular dish but enjoys clams in combination with seafood and fish in other dishes. 

If you like clams, try my recipe for comfort food Korean Rice Porridge with Clams and a twist on ramen noodles with a Vietnamese clam dish Cơm Hến

Korean Rice Porridge with Clams

Vietnamese clam dish Cơm Hến with ramen noodles.