This food is called Thai Red Curry Coconut Clams. It tastes really good! It’s sweet and creamy from coconut milk, a little bit spicy from red curry, and smells nice from Thai spices. It’s warm, feels like you’re in another country, and it’s not too hard to make.
What is Thai Red Curry Coconut Clams?
Thai food is known for mixing different tastes: spicy, sweet, sour, and salty. Thai Red Curry Coconut Clams is one food that does this well. It comes from the beaches of Thailand, where they have lots of clams. In this dish, clams are cooked in a tasty red curry sauce. You can learn more about Thai cuisine from trusted sources like Serious Eats’ Thai Food section.
The sauce for Thai Red Curry Coconut Clams is made with creamy coconut milk and red curry paste. Red curry paste has things like red peppers, garlic, and lemongrass. It makes the food a little spicy. The coconut milk makes it smooth and not too spicy. The sauce and the clams taste great together.
When you eat this, the clams are soft and juicy, and the sauce is smooth and smells good. It feels like you are in Thailand! The colors look nice, and the smell is wonderful. Making Thai Red Curry Coconut Clams is like going on a trip with your food. It shows how good Thai cooking is.
What You Need to Make It
To make good Thai Red Curry Coconut Clams, you need the right things. First, you need fresh clams. Small clams like Manila clams are good. Make sure they are alive before you cook them.
You also need red curry paste. It’s good to use a good one. It has peppers and spices that give the food its taste. You can use more or less depending on how spicy you like it. You can find good red curry paste online, like this popular Maesri Thai Red Curry Paste on Amazon.
Coconut milk is also important. The thick kind makes the food creamy. You will also need garlic and small onions. These make the food smell good. Lime juice makes it a little sour, and fish sauce makes it taste richer. For the best creamy result, try Arroy-D Coconut Milk, available on Amazon.
To put on top, you can use green leaves called cilantro and red peppers cut into small pieces. These make it look nice and taste fresh. You can eat the clams with rice or bread to soak up the sauce.
How to Make It
Before you cook the Thai Red Curry Coconut Clams, you need to get everything ready. This will make cooking easier and the food taste better.
First, wash the clams well with cold water. You can put them in water for a bit to get any sand out. Then wash them again. Clean clams are important for good food.
Next, cut the vegetables you want to use, like peppers and onions. Cut them the same size so they cook evenly. Chop some green leaves too. Also, chop the garlic and ginger into very small pieces. These smell good and add to the taste.
Get your cooking tools ready. A big pan is good for cooking the clams and sauce. Have a cutting board, knife, spoons, and a spatula ready. This will help you cook without stopping.
Finally, put all your ingredients together, like the red curry paste, coconut milk, and clean clams. When you have everything ready, it’s easier to cook.
Cooking Time
To cook yummy red curry coconut clams, first get all your things ready: clams, red curry paste, coconut milk, peppers, garlic, and small onions. Wash the clams well with cold water. This makes sure they taste good.
Then, heat a little oil in a big pan. Add the chopped small onions and garlic. Cook them until they are soft and smell good. This makes the food taste better. After a few minutes, add the cut peppers and cook them a little.
Next, put in the red curry paste (like the one from Amazon). Mix it with the vegetables for about a minute. This makes the curry smell stronger. Slowly pour in the coconut milk (like the Arroy-D from Amazon) and mix it all together. Let it bubble gently for about five minutes so the flavors mix well.
Finally, put the clean clams into the sauce. Cover the pan so they cook evenly. In about five to seven minutes, the clams should open. Throw away any that don’t open. Eat the Thai Red Curry Coconut Clams hot with rice. For a great result, use Royal Thai Jasmine Rice, available on Amazon.
Tips for Good Clams
To cook clams just right, you need to watch them and do it the right way. Start with clams that are fresh. They should be closed or close when you touch them. Don’t use any that are broken or open.
Before cooking, put the clams in salty water for about 20 minutes. This helps them get rid of sand. When you cook them, they usually take about 5 to 10 minutes to open. That’s when they are done. If you cook them too long, they can become hard.
Some clams might take longer to open than others. If some don’t open, don’t eat them. Take the opened clams out of the pan quickly so they don’t overcook. This will make them soft and tasty.
If you follow these tips, your clams will be cooked perfectly and will taste great in your Thai Red Curry Coconut Clams.
How to Serve
When you serve your Thai Red Curry Coconut Clams, making it look nice can make it taste even better. Use a wide bowl so you can see all the colors. A white bowl can make the red curry stand out.
Put some fresh green leaves like cilantro on top. This adds color and a fresh taste. You can also put some slices of red pepper on it. A piece of lime on the side lets people add a little sour taste if they want.
You can eat the clams with rice (like the Royal Thai Jasmine Rice from Amazon). The rice soaks up the yummy sauce. Bread is also good for this. For a real Thai meal, you can have some pickled vegetables on the side.
Making your Thai Red Curry Coconut Clams look good is easy and makes eating it more fun!
What Tastes Good With It
When you eat Thai Red Curry Coconut Clams, there are other things you can have with it that taste good together. The creamy and spicy flavors of the clams go well with certain drinks and side dishes.
For drinks, Thai iced tea is a good choice. It’s sweet and creamy and helps cool down the spiciness. A light white wine can also taste good with the clams.
For side dishes, rice (like the one on Amazon) is common in Thai food. It soaks up the sauce. A fresh salad made with green papaya can add a crunchy and sour taste that goes well with the creamy clams. You can also have some simple cooked vegetables on the side.
Having these drinks and side dishes with your Thai Red Curry Coconut Clams makes for a complete and tasty meal.
Is It Healthy?
Clams are a healthy food. They have a lot of protein, which is good for your muscles. They don’t have a lot of fat and calories.
Clams also have vitamins and minerals like B12, C, iron, and selenium. These help your body work well. Eating clams can be good for you.
Coconut milk (like the Arroy-D from Amazon) has healthy fats. These fats can give you energy and might be good for your heart. Coconut milk also has something that can help your body fight off bad things. So, eating clams with coconut milk is not only tasty but can also be good for you.
Eating Thai Red Curry Coconut Clams gives you good things from both the clams and the coconut milk. It’s a tasty and healthy choice for a meal.
Thai Red Curry Coconut Clams
3
servings15
minutes15
minutes220
kcal30
minutesThai Red Curry Coconut Clams is a healthy, flavor-packed dish featuring tender clams simmered in a sweet, creamy coconut broth with a spicy kick from Thai red curry paste. Infused with aromatic herbs and spices, it’s cozy, exotic, and incredibly easy to make—perfect for a quick yet impressive meal.
Ingredients
1 kilograms 1 clams
12 12 cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons 2 oil
3 3 shallots, sliced
3 3 garlic, minced
1 1 stalk of lemongrass, minced
1 tablespoon 1 chopped ginger
4 tablespoons 4 Thai red curry paste
250 250 millilitres of chicken stock
250 250 millilitres of Ayam brand coconut milk
1/4 cup 1/4 lime juice
3 3 kaffir lime leaves
1 teaspoon 1 sugar
salt & pepper to taste
handful chopped coriander
Directions
- Submerge the clams in a pot of salt water for 1-2 hours to allow it to purge out any residues.
- Rinse and drain well.
- Heat oil in wok. Add shallots, garlic, lemongrass and ginger, saute till fragrant.
- Add in curry paste and fry for 1 min.
- Add in stock, coconut milk, lime juice and lime leaves.
- Bring to a simmer. Add sugar, salt & pepper to taste.
- Add in clams and mix well.
- Cover wok and cook over high heat for 5-7 mins or until most of the clams have opened.
- Stir in chopped coriander and dish up.
- Serve immediately.
Equipment
Deep Frying PanBuy now on Amazon
Wooden Cooking Spoons SetBuy on Amazon
Cuisinart Mesh StrainersBuy on Amazon
Recipe Video
Notes
- Serve with steaming hot rice or bread for dipping.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 1g
- Total number of serves: 3
- Calories: 222kcal
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
- Sodium: 600mg
- Potassium: 400mg
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Vitamin A: 300IU
- Vitamin C: 20mg
- Calcium: 40mg
- Iron: 3mg
- Vitamin D: 0mg
- Vitamin E: 1mg
- Vitamin K: 5mg
- Thiamin: 0mg
- Riboflavin: 0mg
- Niacin: 2mg
- Vitamin B6: 0mg
- Vitamin B12: 2mg
- Folate: 20mg
- Biotin: 0mg
- Pantothenic Acid: 0mg
- Phosphorus: 100mg
- Iodine: 0mg
- Magnesium: 20mg
- Zinc: 1mg
- Selenium: 10mg
- Copper: 0mg
- Manganese: 0mg
- Chromium: 0mg
- Molybdenum: 0mg
- Chloride: 0mg
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Frequently Asked Questions – Thai Red Curry Coconut Clams Recipe
What type of clams should I use?
Manila clams or littleneck clams are preferred because of their sweet, tender meat that pairs well with the spicy, creamy curry
How do I clean the clams properly?
Rinse clams under cold water and soak them in fresh water for about 20 minutes to expel sand and grit. Discard any clams that remain open after tapping
Can I adjust the spice level?
Yes, adjust the amount of Thai red curry paste according to your heat preference. Start with about 2-3 tablespoons and increase if you want it spicier
What ingredients create the curry sauce?
The sauce is made from red curry paste, coconut milk (preferably full-fat for richness), garlic, shallots, ginger, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, fish sauce, and sometimes a sweetener like palm sugar or honey
How long do I cook the clams?
Clams usually take about 5-7 minutes to cook in the simmering curry sauce until they open. Discard any that do not open
Can I add other vegetables or garnishes?
Yes, bell peppers, cilantro, sliced red chilies, and fresh herbs like Thai basil or mint are commonly added for flavor and presentation
What should I serve with Thai Red Curry Coconut Clams?
Serve with steamed jasmine rice or crusty bread to soak up the flavorful coconut curry broth
Can I use vegetable or chicken stock in the recipe?
Yes, some recipes incorporate vegetable or chicken stock to adjust the broth consistency and enhance flavor
Is it okay to use store-bought red curry paste?
Yes, high-quality store-bought red curry paste works well, but homemade paste can provide a deeper flavor
How do I balance the flavors?
The dish balances spicy, sweet, salty, and sour elements—adjust fish sauce for saltiness, lime juice for acidity, and sugar or honey for sweetness
