In preparation for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, I prepared a refreshing cold appetizer recipe. Consider this easy dish a surf clam salad. It is beautiful, celebratory vibrant and easy to make. Pair this Hokkigai Arctic Surf Clams with Ginger and Scallion Cold Appetizer with a Spicy Soy Dipping Sauce 薑蔥北極貝冷盤 辣椒豉油 for a satisfying finish! Add White Cockle Clams for an added layer of sweet ocean umami flavour.

This post is sponsored by Clearwater.ca and I have been compensated monetarily. All views and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Nomss in the kitchen!

Jump to:

• What Does Arctic Surf Clams Taste Like
• Arctic Surf Clams Health Benefits
• Where To Buy Arctic Surf Clams
• Clearwater Arctic Surf Clams
• Where Are Clearwater Arctic Surf Clams Harvested?
• Ingredients You Will Need To Make Clam Salad
• How To Prepare Arctic Surf Clams and Cockle Clams
• How To Prepare Hokkigai Cold Appetizer 薑蔥北極貝冷盤
• How to Prepare Spicy Soy Dipping Sauce 辣椒豉油食谱
• Chinese Lunar New Year Symbolism
• Other Chinese Surf Clam Recipe
• What To Serve With Surf Clams
• HOKKIGAI ARCTIC SURF CLAMS WITH GINGER AND SCALLIONS COLD APPETIZER 薑蔥北極貝冷盤食譜

What Does Arctic Surf Clams Taste Like

Hokkigai Arctic Surf Clams has a distinguished taste, meaty texture, mild aroma, and sweet flavour.

This giant clam has a beautiful rose white coloration and a juicy texture perfect for cold applications in Asian cuisine. 

Chilled Arctic surf clams have a sweeter taste which is fantastic served as surf clam sashimi. Most sushi restaurants offer hokkigai nigiri sushi or hokkigai sashimi on their high-end sushi menus.  I love surf clam sushi, they are soooo tasty!

Both raw surf clams have a soft and firm texture that is super delicious with a slight crunch. They are low in fat and high in protein.

Comparatively, White Cockle Clams are less briny bivalves with an unique texture.

The adductor muscle of the the raw surf clam is soft and can be eaten. 

Arctic Surf Clams Health Benefits

Hokkigai clams (spisula solidissima) are a great low fat, high protein choice that is a very nutritious whole food. Surf clams are high in iron, Omega 3 fatty acids.

Where To Buy Arctic Surf Clams

Arctic Surf Clams are available at most major grocery stores and supermarkets. 

Clearwater Arctic Surf Clams

I ordered my frozen surf clams and white cockle clams from Clearwater - shop.clearwater.ca. 

They offer a wide range of delicious sustainable seafood of the highest quality products.

If you are ordering seafood online for the first time, trust that Clearwater ships high quality, premium wild, MSC-certified products across Canada. Option for contactless delivery for grocery shopping and avoid the disappointment of long lines at supermarkets. Clearwater also sells other eco-certified seafood products online and in major supermarkets.

My Northern clams arrived neatly packaged on the day I requested with an insulated box with ice and a tracking number.

USE MY DISCOUNT CODE “INSTANOMSS10” FOR 10% OFF YOUR CLEARWATER.CA PURCHASE!

Where Are Clearwater Arctic Surf Clams Harvested?

Clearwater harvests the clams miles offshore Bedford, Nova Scotia, in pristine deep open water and cold clear Canadian water.

The Canadian North Atlantic clams come on board the vessel is quickly steamed to loosen the meat (and to lock-in that vibrant colour). The Atlantic surf clam meat is then taken out. Then the live surf clams are immediately flash frozen at sea.

It then goes to the factory to be processed and graded before being shipped worldwide. 98% of is headed to Asia and Japan for the sushi and sashimi market.

Ingredients You Will Need To Make Clam Salad

Hokkigai Arctic Surf Clams

White Cockle Clams

Lime

Green Onions

Ginger

Sesame Oil

Bird's Eye Red Chilis

Sugar

Vegetable Oil

Steamed Soy Fish Sauce or Light Soy Sauce

How To Prepare Arctic Surf Clams and Cockle Clams

• Simply defrost 400g package of Arctic Surf Clams
• In a large bowl, rinse the red clam under running cold water.
• Slice and cut on the bias into halves and clean off the stomach part. While you can eat the surf clams whole, for better absorption of the spicy dressing it is best to cut the clams in half
• Place the clams and lime slices in ice water for 5 minutes. By placing the clams with lime slices accentuates the faint sweet flavour.
• Remove from water and pat dry.

How To Prepare Hokkigai Cold Appetizer 薑蔥北極貝冷盤

• Julienne green onions and ginger.
• Toss in Northern Surf Clam and Cockle Clams sashimi in a large mixing bowl.
• Lightly drizzle sesame oil. Mix well.
• Plate and set aside.

How to Prepare Spicy Soy Dipping Sauce 辣椒豉油食谱

• Julienne green onions and ginger.
• Finely chop birds eye chilli. Remove seeds if you prefer it to be less spicy.
• Add green onions, ginger, bird's eye chilli, and sugar to a small dipping bowl.
• In a small pot, over medium-high heat, simmer neutral tasting/vegetable oil before smoking. The oil must be hot and cooked.
• Pour cooked oil directly over green onions, ginger and birds eye chilli in the small dipping bowl.
• Add steamed fish soy sauce into the small dipping bowl.

Chinese Lunar New Year Symbolism

Arctic Surf Clams and Cockle Clams are excellent choices for appetizers during the Chinese Lunar New Year. Not only does this cold appetizer come together effortlessly, the radiant colours plays are auspicious to Chinese cultural.

The brilliant red vermilion symbolizes prosperity, good fortune, and happiness! Weaving scallion green throughout also plays on green jade symbolism for harmony, purity and wealth!

We wish everyone a healthy, prosperous, joyful New Year!

Other Chinese Surf Clam Recipe

Hokkigai Arctic Surf Clams Stir Fry with Ginger and Green Onion 薑蔥北極貝小炒 

What To Serve With Surf Clams

Vegan Tofu Stir Fry 五彩金銀滿屋豆乾小炒王

5 Minute Air Fryer Bean Curd Sheets with Baby Bok Choy Stir Fry

Easy Instant Pot Braised Chinese Mushrooms

Did you make our Arctic Surf Clam Recipes? I’d love to see how you went with my recipes! Leave a comment below or tag me on instagram @INSTANOMSS #INSTANOMSS

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MORE SEAFOOD RECIPES: 

Hokkigai Arctic Surf Clams Stir Fry with Ginger and Scallions 薑蔥北極貝小炒食譜

Seafood Cioppino Soup

Seafood Cobb Salad

Lobster Stock

Best Clam Chowder

Haddock Scallops Seafood Fennel Soup

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