Spicy Clams with Basil Recipe

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This Spicy Clams with Basil Sauce dish looks and tastes like a million bucks. The Thai basil adds color and compliments the unique flavor of clams. The best part is that it takes about 10 minutes to prepare

2-3 Servings, Prep Time: , Total Time: 10 Minutes

2 crushed chili peppers
3 teaspoons fish sauce
2 cloves garlic
2 lbs Manila Clams
1 tablespoon Nam Prig Pow
2 teaspoons sugar
1 bunch picked Thai basil
1 tablespoon cooking oil

Tips and Techniques

The success of this dish is in the freshness of the clams.

After the clams are cooked, discard the unopened ones. Curiosity kills the cat, I have found some to be full of mud!

Method

Slice the chili pepper lengthwise into thin strips. You can also substitute red bell pepper or other sweet peppers, if you don't like it hot. Rinse and scrub (if needed) the clams and let them drain.

Add a tablespoon of oil to a wok over high heat. Add garlic and chili pepper. Immediately add clams and stir. The clam juice will start to come out. Stir until all the clams open. The clams I use open after 4 minutes of high heat. Add fish sauce, nam prig pow and sugar and stir to mix the seasonings in. Add Thai basil. Stir and quickly remove from heat. Serve hot with rice.