Snout Otter Clams, Van Don’s special food

Posted by admin on May 31, 2011 under Halong Culinary, Tips for Halong tours | Be the First to Comment

If you have a chance to see the living Tu Hài (Snout Otter Clams) with your own eyes, you won’t be surprised by its strange name. An Snout Otter Clam looks like an oyster when its two shells are closed, but its shells rarely close because its long snout is always waggling between them.

Snout Otter Clam are a special marine species found on Van Don island in Bai Tu Long Bay, Quang Ninh. It takes two to three hours to reach the clam growing area by boat from Bai Chay beach. Bai Tu Long bay has pure and clean water so the habitat is suitable for this special species. Otter snout clam meat is fragrant, delicious and rich in protein. Its price ranges from VND 200,000 – VND 500,000/kg.

Before cooking, snout otter clam shells should be removed and washed before the meat can be made into tasty dishes as follows:

Grilled Snout Otter Clams

Fry some dried onion with chicken oil until it releases a scent. Cover the otter snout clams with this oil and then grill. You can also add peanuts, coriander, pepper and chilli oil to enhance the flavour.

Raw Snout Otter Clams

After cleaning, the snout otter clam meat is kept in its shell. Before serving, squeeze on some lemon juice and add some chilli sauce or wasabi. This dish can be eaten with red caviar.

Snout otter  clams can also be fried, steamed, or roasted with cheese and fresh milk. Its unique fragrance enchants both tourists and the locals in Quang Ninh, and it has become the signature dish to be served at Quang Ninh parties in recent years.

Source: Halongbay Vietnambeauty