Delicious Cockle Recipes: Discover Easy-to-Make Dishes

Ark shells are a familiar, delicious, and highly nutritious type of seafood. With their natural sweetness, tender meat, and characteristic aroma, ark shells are easily prepared into many attractive dishes. So, what delicious dishes can be made with ark shells? Let’s explore suggestions from simple to sophisticated that will make your meals more diverse in this article by Ola Squid!

1. What delicious dishes can be made with ark shells?

Ark shells are a fresh, nutritious seafood with natural sweetness and a moderately chewy texture. Although small, ark shells are incredibly versatile in preparation, ranging from grilled with scallion oil, stir-fried with vegetables or garlic… to refreshing steamed dishes or sweet and sour salads. If you are wondering what delicious dishes to make with ark shells, here are suggestions for easy-to-make, flavorful recipes suitable for family meals or seafood parties.

1.1. Ark shells grilled with garlic butter

Ingredients

• 1kg ark shells
• 50g butter, Vietnamese coriander (rau răm)
• 4 tbsp breadcrumbs, 1 tbsp seasoning salt
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 2 tbsp minced parsley
• 1 tbsp minced green chili
• 2 tbsp condensed milk
• 1 tbsp lime juice

How to prepare ark shells grilled with garlic butter:

• Step 1: Clean the ark shells thoroughly through several changes of water, then parboil them to easily remove the shells. Remove one half of the shell and drain. Next, prepare the garlic butter mixture by mixing butter, minced garlic, parsley, and seasoning salt in a bowl until well combined.
• Step 2: Place the ark shells on a grill, brush the garlic butter mixture onto each one, and sprinkle a layer of breadcrumbs so that when grilled, the garlic butter becomes light and fragrant.
• Step 3: Finely blend the green chili, condensed milk, lime juice, parsley, and seasoning salt into a smooth mixture to use as a dipping sauce. When the shells are golden brown and cooked through, arrange them on a plate, garnish with Vietnamese coriander, and enjoy with the spicy green chili sauce.

1.2. Ark shells grilled with sate

Ingredients

• 500g ark shells
• 10g lemongrass, 10g minced garlic
• 1 tbsp sate sauce, 1 tbsp chili sauce
• 1 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tsp sugar

How to prepare ark shells grilled with sate:

• First, scrub the shells clean and soak them in water with a few chili slices for about 4 hours to remove sand. Then boil or steam until the shells open, then remove one side of the shell.
• Next, blend the lemongrass, garlic, sate, chili sauce, fish sauce, and sugar into a smooth, thick mixture.
• Place the shells on a grill rack and brush the sate sauce evenly onto each one, then bake in the oven at 200°C for about 10-15 minutes. Once cooked, they have an eye-catching red color, a natural sweet and chewy taste combined with the rich spicy sauce; you can drizzle extra scallion oil to make the dish even more appealing.

>>See more: What to cook with blood cockles? Suggestions for 13 easy-to-make blood cockle dishes

1.3. Ark shells grilled with scallion oil

Ingredients

• ½ kg ark shells
• Green onions, chili
• 30g peanuts
• 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tbsp fish sauce, 150ml cooking oil

Instructions for simple ark shells grilled with scallion oil:

• Wash the shells then soak with salt and chili for about 40 minutes to release sand, then parboil in boiling water and remove one half of the shell.
• Next, finely chop the green onions and chili, mix with seasonings and crushed peanuts. Heat oil in a pan and pour it over the mixture to create a fragrant, fatty scallion oil.
• Arrange the shells on a grill and brush the scallion oil evenly onto each one. Then grill over charcoal or in an oven until the scallion oil sizzles and releases an attractive aroma. Ark shells grilled with scallion oil have sweet meat, fatty scallion oil, and the nutty taste of peanuts.

1.4 Ark shells with mango sauce

Ingredients

• 1 kg ark shells
• 1 ripe mango
• 50 g green onions
• 70 g cashews (or peanuts)
• Sugar, salt, cooking oil

How to prepare ark shells with mango sauce:

• Scrub the shells clean, then soak in rice water with chopped chili for about 1-2 hours to release sand. Peel the mango, cut one part into small dice and the rest into larger cubes.
• Next, blend the cubed mango with sugar, salt, and a little water until smooth, then simmer over low heat until the sauce thickens. Make scallion oil by mixing chopped green onions with sugar and seasoning powder, then pour hot oil over.
• Then, boil the ark shells for about 2-3 minutes until they just open, then turn off the heat, take them out, and remove one half of the shell, keeping the half with the meat.
• Place the shells on the grill, drizzle with scallion oil, chopped mango, and crushed cashews, then grill for about 2-3 minutes until the scallion oil lightly bubbles. Ark shells grilled with mango sauce feature tender sweet meat, fatty scallion oil, nutty cashews, and sweet and sour mango sauce, creating a dish that is both unique and appetite-stimulating.

1.5. Ark shells steamed with lemongrass

Ingredients

• 1 kg ark shells
• 2 chilies, 3 lemongrass stalks
• 100 g Vietnamese coriander
• 1/2 lime
• Salt, MSG, pepper

Quick steps to steam ark shells with lemongrass:

• Crush the lemongrass and cut into sections, and slice the chilies. Soak ark shells in rice water for 3-4 hours to thoroughly clean sand, then rinse under the tap. You can also soak shells in diluted salt water with ginger or fermented rice water to effectively deodorize and clean.
• Next, put the shells in a pot, add lemongrass and chili, then pour about 1 liter of water and steam over high heat. When the shells open (about 7-10 minutes), turn off the heat.
• Lemongrass steamed ark shells are fragrant, with tender sweet meat that retains its freshness. When eating, serve with Vietnamese coriander and chili salt for the best flavor.

>>Reference more: How to make steamed squid with lemongrass delicious and authentic, without any fishy smell

1.6. Deep-fried ark shells

Ingredients

• 1 kg ark shells
• 100 g breadcrumbs, 100 g all-purpose flour
• 100 g crispy frying flour
• 2 eggs
• 5 g minced chili, 10 g lime leaves
• 30 g condensed milk, 50 ml fresh milk
• 30 g mayonnaise sauce

How to make deep-fried ark shells:

• Soak ark shells in rice water or diluted salt water with a few chili slices for about 1 hour to clean sand. Then, boil the shells until they open, take them out, and remove the meat. To be faster, you can use pre-prepared ark shell meat.
• Finely mince lime leaves, mix one part into the breadcrumbs to create fragrance. Beat the eggs in a separate bowl.
• Next, dredge the ark shell meat successively through flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. Heat oil and fry until the crust is golden and crispy, then remove and drain.
• Mix mayonnaise, condensed milk, fresh milk, lime leaves, and minced chili to create a rich, creamy dipping sauce.

1.7. Ark shell porridge

Ingredients needed:

• 1 kg ark shells
• 300 g straw mushrooms, 300 g rice
• 3 shallots, carrots
• Green onions, cilantro
• Cooking oil, salt, seasoning powder, MSG

Instructions for cooking delicious ark shell porridge:

• First, boil the shells for about 10 minutes until they open, then extract the meat. Wash the ark shell meat several times with clean water, squeezing gently to remove any remaining sand.
• Wash the rice. Peel carrots, wash and dice them. Soak straw mushrooms in diluted salt water for 10 minutes, then wash and cut in half. Slice shallots, and chop green onions and cilantro.
• Next, sauté sliced shallots in a pan with a little oil until fragrant. Add the ark shell meat and stir-fry quickly, then season with salt, seasoning powder, and MSG to taste. Add straw mushrooms and stir for about 5-7 minutes, then turn off the heat.
• Boil 2 liters of water, add rice and cook for 5 minutes, then add carrots and cook until the rice is soft and blooming. Finally, add the sautéed ark shell mixture back into the porridge pot and adjust seasonings to taste. Simmer for a few more minutes, then sprinkle with green onions and cilantro before turning off the heat.

>> Similar delicious dish: How to cook squid porridge flavorful, delicious, and authentic at home

1.8. Ark shells stir-fried with water spinach

Ingredients

• 1 kg ark shells
• 1 kg water spinach
• Garlic
• Fish sauce, sugar, cooking oil, seasoning powder, MSG, chili sate

Instructions for stir-frying water spinach with ark shells:

• Wash the ark shells and soak them in rice water for about 2 hours, then use a brush to scrub the outer shell and boil for about 5 minutes until they open. Next, extract the ark shell meat and set aside.
• Peel garlic, mince one part and slice the other. Prepare water spinach by taking only the stems, wash clean, then blanch for 2 minutes and immediately place in ice water to keep them crunchy and green.
• Heat a pan and fry the sliced garlic until golden and crispy, then remove. Continue to sauté minced garlic then add sate and stir well. Add the ark shell meat, season with seasoning powder, sugar, MSG, and stir-fry until flavored.
• After that, add the water spinach, add fish sauce and adjust to taste, then stir quickly and turn off the heat. Dish out and sprinkle fried garlic on top to increase fragrance and crunchiness.

See more: Tips for stir-fried squid with water spinach crunchy and green without being tough

1.9. Ark shells stir-fried with garlic

Ingredients

• 1 kg ark shells
• 2 lemongrass stalks, 100 g Vietnamese coriander
• 1 tsp chili sauce, 2 tsp minced garlic
• 2 tsp oyster sauce, 2 tbsp cooking oil
• Salt, sugar, seasoning powder, MSG, pepper

How to make ark shells stir-fried with garlic:

• First, soak ark shells in rice water for 3-4 hours to remove sand, then wash thoroughly. You can also soak shells in salt water mixed with ginger or fermented rice water to both clean and deodorize. Crush lemongrass and cut into sections. Pick and wash Vietnamese coriander, then drain.
• Next, boil 500 ml of water with lemongrass, then add ark shells and blanch for about 1 minute before removing. Wash again to remove any remaining sand.
• Sauté minced garlic until fragrant, then add the shells and stir well, adding water, sugar, seasoning powder, MSG, oyster sauce, chili sauce, and pepper. Then increase the heat, stir-fry for about 2 more minutes for the shells to absorb the flavors, then turn off the heat and dish out.

1.10. Ark shells stir-fried with curry

Ingredients to prepare:

• 800 g ark shells
• 10 g curry powder, 6 bird’s eye chilies
• 1 cup minced lemongrass
• 2 tbsp fish sauce, 2 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tbsp cooking oil, 2 tsp white wine
• Salt, seasoning powder, sugar

Steps to process ark shells stir-fried with curry:

• Wash ark shells several times to clean mud, then soak with salt water and chopped chili for about 2 hours to release sand. Boil shells until they open, then extract the meat. To deodorize, you can mix the meat with salt and white wine for 2 minutes then rinse with clean water.
• Next, put the meat in a bowl and marinate with fish sauce, seasoning powder, sugar, and curry powder for about 30 minutes to absorb the flavors.
• Heat oil, sauté garlic then add lemongrass and stir-fry until golden and fragrant. Add the marinated shells and stir-fry for a few minutes, then add sliced bird’s eye chilies and stir-fry more to enhance the flavor. Finally, adjust seasonings to taste then turn off the heat.

1.11. Ark shells stir-fried with lemongrass and chili

Ingredients

• 1 kg ark shells
• 4-6 lemongrass stalks
• Minced garlic, chili
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• Fish sauce, sugar, salt, MSG, cooking oil

How to prepare ark shells stir-fried with lemongrass and chili

• Soak ark shells in diluted salt water for 10-15 minutes to release dirt. Wash several times then boil with a little water until shells open. Then, set the meat aside. Wash and finely mince lemongrass and chili.
• Marinate the meat with sugar, MSG, fish sauce, turmeric powder, and half of the minced lemongrass. Mix well and let it absorb for about 30 minutes.
• Next, heat oil, sauté garlic, chili, and the remaining lemongrass. When fragrant, add the marinated shells and stir-fry quickly over high heat for 10 minutes. Then lower the heat, stir for another 3-5 minutes for the shells to absorb everything then turn off the heat.

>> See now: Reveal how to make squid stir-fried with lemongrass and chili delicious, the more you eat, the more you love it

1.12. Ark shells stir-fried with onion

Ingredients

• 1 kg ark shells
• 1 onion
• 1/2 pineapple, 1 cucumber
• 1 tomato
• Vietnamese coriander, green onions
• Minced garlic, minced shallot, minced chili
• 1 tsp sate
• 1 tbsp tomato sauce or plum sauce
• 1/2 tbsp cornstarch, 1 tbsp lime juice
• Fish sauce, cooking oil, sugar, and MSG

Detailed instructions for ark shells stir-fried with onion:

• Soak ark shells in salt water and chili for about 2 hours to release sand. Wash then boil with a little water until shells open. Next, extract the meat, wash again thoroughly and drain.
• Quarter the cucumber and cut into bite-sized pieces. Cut tomato and onion into wedges, and slice pineapple. Wash and chop Vietnamese coriander and green onions.
• Next, sauté minced garlic and shallot, add ark shell meat and stir for 3-4 minutes then season with salt, sugar, MSG, and sate. Stir-fry until absorbed, then dish out the meat.
• Sauté minced garlic, shallot, and chili, then increase heat and add onion, pineapple, tomato, and cucumber, stirring for 3-5 minutes until vegetables soften. Next, add tomato sauce or plum sauce, stir well then return the meat to the pan. Season with fish sauce and lime juice to taste. Mix cornstarch with water then pour into the pan to create a glaze, then add green onions and turn off the heat.

1.13. Sweet and sour ark shell salad

Ingredients to prepare

• 2kg ark shells
• 80g shredded water spinach and 80g snow fungus
• 50g onion
• 80g carrot and 30g horn chili (shredded)
• 30g sliced kumquat, 50g pickled scallion heads
• 1/2 lime, 80ml kumquat juice
• Thai basil
• Vinegar, fish sauce, sugar, chili powder, minced garlic, minced chili

Detailed instructions:

• First, soak the ark shells in water mixed with chili and lime for about 1 hour to clean sand. Then wash them clean and boil with ginger until shells open, then extract the meat and drain.
• Soak shredded water spinach in vinegar and sugar for crunchiness. Blanch snow fungus. Slice onion thinly and soak in cold water to reduce pungency.
• Next, cook the mixture of kumquat juice, sugar, and fish sauce until slightly thickened, then let it cool. Then add minced garlic, minced chili, chili powder, and chopped Thai basil to create a flavorful dressing.
• Finally, put ark shells, shredded water spinach, snow fungus, onion, carrot, horn chili, kumquat slices, and pickled scallion heads in a large bowl. Pour the dressing over and mix gently.

1.14. Ark shell “bóp thấu” salad

Ingredients

• 2 kg small ark shells
• 1.5 tsp sugar, 3 tsp salt and pepper
• 0.5 tsp ground fresh chili
• 1 lime (squeezed for juice)
• 2 sprigs Vietnamese coriander

Simple instructions for ark shell “bóp thấu”:

• First, you need to clean the ark shells, soak them in water with a bit of chili for about 30 minutes to release all sand. Then boil them, remove shells, extract the meat and let it cool. Cut Vietnamese coriander into bite-sized pieces.
• Next, put the cooled ark shell meat in a bowl along with Vietnamese coriander, salt and pepper, sugar, ground chili, and lime juice. Mix well so that the seasoning is evenly distributed, and adjust to taste if necessary.
• After that, arrange the shells on a plate and enjoy immediately. The meat is sweet and chewy, combined with a harmonious sour, spicy, and salty taste, making it a great appetizer.

2. How to clean ark shells

Before preparation, cleaning ark shells is a vital step to ensure the dish is delicious, safe, and free from sand. Ark shells often have sand inside; if not handled carefully, they will be gritty and lose their flavor.

Detailed steps to clean ark shells:

• Step 1 – Salt water soak: Put ark shells in a bowl of cold water mixed with a bit of salt, soak for about 30-60 minutes. To speed this up, add a few chili slices or a few drops of rice water to help them release dirt faster.
• Step 2 – Scrubbing: Use a soft brush or a specialized brush to scrub the outer shell, removing mud and algae.
• Step 3 – Multiple rinses: After soaking and scrubbing, rinse the ark shells with clean water several times until the water is clear and no longer has residue.
• Step 4 – Open shell or keep whole: Depending on the dish, you can gently pry open the shell to cook directly (grilling, sauces) or keep it whole when steaming. Opening the shell should be done skillfully so the meat doesn’t get crushed.

With these simple steps, ark shells will be free of sand, retaining their natural sweetness, making grilled, stir-fried, or steamed dishes delicious and safe for health.

3. How much is the price of ark shells per 1kg?

Currently, ark shells cost around 200,000 – 350,000 VND/kg depending on the size, freshness, and purchase location. Large, firm-fleshed ark shells with intact shells usually have higher prices, especially in big cities or famous seafood markets.

Additionally, when buying fresh ark shells, pay attention to the following:

• Choose live shells that are tightly closed and have no strange odor.
• The meat should be firm, and they should feel heavy in hand; avoid buying dead shells or cracked ones.
• If buying in large quantities, ask the seller about the origin to ensure freshness and safety.

Ark shells are easy-to-cook and nutrient-rich ingredients. From fragrant grilled dishes, bold stir-fries to sweet and sour salads or porridge, they enrich every meal. We hope with the above suggestions, you have found the answer to “what delicious dishes can be made with ark shells?” and can personally prepare attractive dishes for your family. Besides fresh seafood, if you’re a seafood lover, don’t miss our whole dried squid for a unique snacking experience. And don’t forget to visit the Ola Squid Blog to discover more special tips and recipes!