Clams with Sesame Rice Noodles Recipe
This Clams with Sesame Rice Noodles recipe brings together delicate seafood and bold Southeast Asian flavors with a refined French-inspired presentation, creating a dish that’s perfect for elevated appetizers or dinner parties. Featured on CombiNation, this recipe combines clams, shrimp cakes, and fragrant herbs for a vibrant, restaurant-quality dish that’s surprisingly achievable at home.
The Inspiration
Inspired by the culinary crossroads of France and Vietnam, this dish reflects the balance of elegance and freshness that defines both cuisines. On CombiNation, host Craig Wong showcases how classic French techniques—like carefully infused broths and composed plating—can harmonize with the bright, herbaceous, and umami-rich elements of Vietnamese cooking.
The shrimp cake acts as a savory foundation, while the sesame rice noodles bring texture and depth. The clams, gently poached in an aromatic broth infused with lemongrass, ginger, and kaffir lime, highlight the importance of layering flavors without overpowering the natural sweetness of the seafood. This dish is a perfect example of how global culinary traditions can merge into something refined, modern, and incredibly satisfying.
Ingredients
Shrimp cake
- 8 ounces (113 g) large shrimp (16-20 count), deveined, raw, shells removed
- ½ lime, juice and zest
- 2 teaspoons (10 ml) sriracha sauce
- 1 egg white
- 2 teaspoon (5 ml) cornstarch
- ½ inch (1.25 cm) piece ginger, grated
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) Shaoxing wine
- Salt and white pepper
- ¼ cup (60 ml) finely sliced bean sprouts
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) finely sliced Thai basil
Clams
- 4 large quahog clams
- 2 cups (470 ml) chicken stock
- 2-inch (5 cm) piece of ginger, sliced
- 2 Kaffir lime leaves
- 2 x 4 inch (7.5 cm) pieces lemongrass, bruised
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) MSG
- 1/8 teaspoon (.75 ml) white pepper
Noodle Salad
- 1 package (1 pound/454 g) pho/rice stick vermicelli noodles
- Boiling water
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) lime juice
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) water
- 4 tablespoons (60 ml) hoisin
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) rock sugar, grated
- 1 lime, zest
- Sesame oil
- Black sesame seeds
Garnish (several or all of the following)
- Pea shoots, onion sprouts, cilantro sprouts, radish sprouts, chive blossoms, finely sliced Chinese chives, finely sliced rau ram leaves finely sliced mint, sliced red chilies
Method
For the Shrimp Cake
- In a food processor, process shrimp until you reach a smooth but slightly chunky paste. Add ginger, garlic, sriracha, lime, egg white, cornstarch, and Shaoxing wine, season with salt and white pepper. Pulse to incorporate.
- Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl, fold in the Thai basil and bean sprouts.
- Shape the mixture into 2-inch (5 cm) rounds that are ½-inch (1.25 cm) thick.
- Heat oil in a small non-stick pan over medium heat, then sear for 1 minute, without coloring. Flip and cook the second side for 1 minute. Add a little water and cover to finish cooking, about 1-2 minutes, until firm.
For the Clams
- In a pot, add chicken stock, ginger, lime leaf, lemongrass, garlic, msg, salt and white pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer, without reducing, steep for 45 minutes.
- Near the end, while simmering, add the clams, cover and cook for 8-10 minutes until just opened. Remove the clams and set aside.
- Strain the cooking liquid through several layers of cheese cloth to filter out all sand, discard the solids and return the broth to the stove, bring to a gentle simmer.
- Remove the flesh from the clams, reserve and clean the bottom half of the shell.
- Slice the clam meat into ½-inch (1.25 cm) pieces and return to the broth to keep warm.
For the Noodle Salad
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, make a sauce by combining lime juice, hoisin, fish sauce, water, and rock sugar. Warm gently until sugar is dissolved, then remove from heat and cool. Zest in lime.
- Cook noodles in boiling water for 3-4 minutes until tender but with a little bite left, then remove and hold.
- Before serving, toss the noodles with the sauce and drizzle with sesame oil.
To Serve
- Place a shrimp cake in the bottom of a small cast-iron bowl.
- Roll 2 ounces (57 g) of seasoned noodles into a mound and position over the shrimp cake, just off to the side. Garnish with black sesame seeds.
- Prepare the garnish mix of herbs, chilies, and flowers by trimming them and cutting them quite small. Make the mix as colourful as possible.
- Place clam meat back in shell and fill the shell with the warm broth.
- Cover the clam with a generous pinch of the herb-flower garnish, then carefully place the clam over the mound of noodles, making sure to keep it flat.
- Repeat process for remaining portions. Tell guests to pour clam meat and broth into the dish before eating.
Serving Suggestions
This Clams with Sesame Rice Noodles recipe is ideal for sophisticated appetizers at dinner parties, tasting menus, or special occasions where presentation matters just as much as flavor. The layered composition makes it a conversation-starting dish, perfect for impressing guests. Pair it with a crisp white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc or a light Riesling to complement the citrusy broth and seafood. For a more casual but equally delicious experience, serve alongside fresh spring rolls or a simple herb salad to echo the Vietnamese flavor profile. When entertaining, consider presenting each portion in individual bowls to highlight the dramatic tableside moment of pouring the fragrant broth over the noodles and shrimp cake.