Heat in this soup come from both the ginger and the chilies. If serving the soup to children or people who have a very low tolerance for hot food, omit the chilies. The ginger, garlic and shallots are quite enough to flavor the soup beautifully.
4 to 6chiliesI used a combination of picante and Thai
4clovesgarlic
1tablespooncooking oil
patisfish sauce to taste
snipped cilantroto garnish
Instructions
Rinse the clams in running water.
Place in a bowl, cover with water and soak for several hours in the fridge, changing the water several times. The clams should open during the soaking time and expel any sand trapped inside the shells.
Rinse again several times to make sure that the water runs clear and the clams are free from any traces of sand.
Thinly slice the shallots or onion.
Peel and thinly slice the ginger.
Mince the garlic.
Slice the chilies.
Heat the cooking oil in a pot.
Saute the shallots (or onion), ginger, garlic and chilies with a tablespoon of patis until fragrant and quite dry, about three minutes.
Pour in about six cups of water.
When the water boils, dump in the cleaned clams.
Bring to the boil once more and allow to boil, uncovered for one minute.
Turn off the heat.
Season with fish sauce.
Allow the clams to finish cooking in the residual heat for about three more minutes.
Ladle the soup into bowls, garnish with snipped cilantro and serve hot.