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Pippies wok-tossed with chilli and Asian basil (nhieu xao rau que)

A common mistake when cooking pippies or clams is to overcook them, leaving them quite rubbery. Be sure to remove them from the heat as soon as the shells open up.

Pippies wok-tossed with chilli and Asian basil

Seafood is the main ingredient as we float around one of the worlds natural wonders, Ha Long Bay. Blue swimmer crab and mussels are caught and cooked in and amongst the stunning floating villages.

Published

By Luke Nguyen

Source: SBS


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  • preparation 10 minutes
  • cooking 10 minutes
  • difficulty Easy level

Ingredients

  • 250 ml (1 cup) water
  • 1 lemongrass stalk, bruised, finely sliced
  • 500 g pippies
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • ½ tbsp fish sauce
  • 1½ tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 tbsp finely diced garlic
  • 1 tbsp finely diced red Asian shallots
  • ½ tbsp potato starch mixed with 1 tbsp water
  • 2 long chillies, finely sliced
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 2 handfuls Asian basil leaves

Instructions

In a saucepan, bring water to the boil. Add lemongrass and pippies. Cover and cook until pippies open slightly (roughly 4 minutes).

In a bowl, add sugar, fish sauce and oyster sauce. Mix until sugar dissolves and set aside.

Strain the pippies, reserving its broth.

Heat a wok to high, add oil, garlic and red shallots, followed by the pippies, then wok-toss for 1 minute.

Add the sauce and 3 tbsp of the pippie broth, toss for a further minute, then add the dissolved potato starch.

Add chilli, pepper and Asian basil, and toss to combine.

Enjoy with beer.

Cook’s Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.


SBS Food is a 24/7 foodie channel for all Australians, with a focus on simple, authentic and everyday food inspiration from cultures everywhere. NSW stream only. Read more about SBS Food

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