Stir-Fried Clams in Black Bean Sauce (Oc Xao Gung Dau Den)

Stir-fried clams with ginger is a classic Vietnamese clam dish. Add a bit of black bean sauce and you'll get a classic Chinese Dim Sum dish. The fermented black bean sauce is incredibly salty so a little goes a long way. Because both the clams liquor and fermented black bean sauce are both salty, we have to balance out the flavors with quite a bit of sugar and/or hoisin sauce (a sweet sauce). Once you establish the perfect balance between sweet and salty in the dish, the result is amazingly delicious. Serve it by itself as an appetizer or with steamed rice as a complete entree.

seafood, shellfishVicky PhamJuly 16, 2017clams, clam dim sum recipe, Stir-Fried Clams in Black Bean Sauce, Oc Xao Gung Dau Den, Ốc xào gừng, shellfish, dim sum, ocComment

Stir-Fried Udon with Shrimp

Udon is thick Japanese noodles made from wheat flour. It's great in both soups and stir-frys. I would occasionally swap out my regular Banh Canh noodles, made from mostly tapioca flour, with Udon noodles because it's heartier with better texture. Udon in stir-fry is also great because the thick udon noodles absorb stir fry sauce nicely.

noodles, seafood, meal prep, JapaneseVicky PhamDecember 2, 2016stir-fry, udon, shrimp, seafood, noodles, stir-fried udon, other noodles, quick Comment

Vietnamese Crispy Salt & Pepper Prawns (Tom Rang Muoi)

Bite-sized bursts of savory, salty, and spicy (optional) flavors, these crispy fried shrimp are the perfect easy-to-make appetizer for any occasion.

Fried, seafood, shrimpVicky PhamDecember 30, 2015Vietnamese salt and pepper prawns, Vietnamese salt and pepper shrimp, tom rang muoi, fried shrimp, fried prawns, Asian fried shrimp, Asian fried prawns, seafood, shrimp, fried seafood, quick shrimp recipe, h'dourves, seafood appetizer, quick Comments

Asian Steamed Clams with Ginger and Rice Wine

These here are steamed clams with an Asian twist. I added ginger for zing and chili paste for kick. I used rice wine instead of white wine and fish sauce instead of salt. I also added bacon fat to give the clams some extra body and flavor. Bacon fat isn't an Asian ingredient but it is a universal truth that everything tastes better with bacon fat.

seafood, shellfishVicky PhamDecember 18, 2015clams, ginger clams, clams with ginger, steamed clams, asian steamed clams, bacon fat, clams with bacon fat, seafood, other seafood, shellfish, appetizersComment

Vietnamese Stuffed Calamari (Muc Nhoi Thit)

Vietnamese stuffed calamari or Muc Nhoi Thit is one of my favorite appetizers. It is calamari stuffed in a pork, noodle and mushroom mixture. The calamari is first steamed. Then it is quickly fried or grilled to get a nice sear and lovely color on the outside. I love eating these stuffed calamari wrapped in lettuce and Vietnamese herbs with a dipping sauce on the side. It is the perfect Vietnamese appetizer for a fancy occasion.

seafood, squidVicky PhamNovember 30, 2015Vietnamese stuffed squid recipe, muc nhoi thit, squid, pork stuffing, stuffed calamari, Vietnamese pork stuffed calamari, Vietnamese Stuffed Calamari Recipe, seafood, h'dourves, other seafood, appetizers, summerComment

Sea Snails in Coconut Milk (Ốc Len Xào Dừa)

My favorite street food snack is sea snails in spicy coconut milk (Oc Len Xao Dua). Cooked in coconut milk with fresh lemongrass, garlic, Vietnamese Coriander (Rau Ram), and chili, this dish is packed full of flavors.

Copycat Recipe: Boiling Crab Shrimp

I made it my goal to replicate the Boiling Scrab sauce at home. I searched in forums, in hopes of finding their employees or former employees hinting at the ingredients. Success. I'm not sure if this recipe is their actual recipe, but I think it's pretty close. It was also delicious and it satisfied my Boiling Crab cravings. If I don't ever master their exact recipe, this recipe will do me just fine.

seafood, shrimpVicky PhamJanuary 13, 2015boiling crab shrimp recipe, boiling crab shrimp, boiling crab copycat recipe, seafood, shrimp, quick shrimp recipe, seafood appetizer Comments

Mexican Shrimp Cocktail

If you ever visit Salinas, CA stop by a little restaurant right off Highway 101. Great atmosphere, serving amazing authentic Mexican food. What stood out the most during our visit was their Mexican shrimp cocktail. It was loaded with whole shrimp, chunks of cucumber, celery, avocados, and onions in a perfect blend of citrus-tomato-clam juice. It was the most refreshing and delicious food I had in Salinas.

Side Dishes, Reviews, seafood, shrimpVicky PhamDecember 1, 2014ceviche, shrimp cocktail, lobster cocktail, mexican shrimp and lobster cocktail, cocktail, seafood, shrimp, quick shrimp recipe, h'dourves, seafood appetizer, mexicanComment

Vietnamese Shrimp Salad (Goi Tom)

Now that Spring has sprung, it is time for a light and refreshing dish. One of my favorite dishes in this warm weather is Vietnamese Shrimp Salad (Goi Tom).

seafood, summer, summer food, appetizers, salad, shrimpVicky PhamMarch 26, 2014Vietnamese shrimp salad, salad, asian salad, shrimp, vegetables Comment