Asari Garlic Clams

Asari Clams with garlic - This is probably one of my favorite items to get when I go to Japanese Izakaya places like Honda-Ya or Kappo Honda. I noticed that they sell these small asari clams at the Japanese market, so I thought I would try to replicate this dish at home. I found a recipe online that I could follow here and modified it a bit. In this version I show here, I added mushrooms, which is totally optional. I normally don't include it.

Ingredients: serves 2
fresh clams (about 1 lb)
1/2 tbs butter
1 stalk spring onion - chopped

2 cloves of garlic - chopped or sliced
1/2 cup sake
1/2 cup water
Salt

Pepper

Mushroom (optional)

Directions (pics below):
1.) Clean the clams and soak in brine (1 tsp salt in 2 1/2 cups water) for at least 1 hr so that any sand can be released from the clam. Rinse.
2.) Melt butter in a pot.

3.) Add the white part of spring onion and garlic. Stir fry until fragrant.
4.) Mix in clams and mushrooms, seasoning with black pepper.
5.) Pour in sake and water.
6.) Cover and bring the liquid to boil at high heat.
7.) As soon as the clam shells are open, remove from heat and season to taste with salt.
8.) Garnish with the green part of the spring onion.

Remember to discard any clams that do not open as they may be contaminated. Enjoy!