Clear Clam Soup for Doll's Festival or Okuizome (Symbolic First Meal Ritual)

Name: Clear Clam Soup for Doll's Festival or Okuizome (Symbolic First Meal Ritual)
Yield: 3 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 Hamaguri clam (1 large or 2 small per serving); 3 Broccolini (or mitsuba); 3 Temarifu or hanafu (colored dried wheat gluten in the shape of balls or flowers); 1 Yuzu citrus peel; 550 ml Water; 5 cm Kombu; 10 grams Bonito flakes; 1 tbsp ＊ Sake; 1 tsp ＊ Soy sauce; 1/4 tsp or more ＊ Salt

cookpad.japan @cookpad_jp

This is the clear clam soup I make every year for Doll's Festival. Upon a quick search, I found that my dashi soup stock is different from most (apparently, many people use only kombu dashi). I'm posting this recipe to share my method for preparing the dashi.

My dashi soup stock is a blend of kombu and bonito flakes. In Step 6, the hamaguri clams also have some saltiness, so adjust to taste. Recipe by mielle

cookpad.japan @cookpad_jp

My dashi soup stock is a blend of kombu and bonito flakes. In Step 6, the hamaguri clams also have some saltiness, so adjust to taste. Recipe by mielle

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Ingredients

3 servings

6Hamaguri clam (1 large or 2 small per serving)
3Broccolini (or mitsuba)
3Temarifu or hanafu (colored dried wheat gluten in the shape of balls or flowers)
1Yuzu citrus peel
Dashi soup stock:
550 mlWater
5cm Kombu
10 gramsBonito flakes
1 tbsp＊ Sake
1 tsp＊ Soy sauce
1/4 tspor more ＊ Salt

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Steps

1

For the broccolini, select 3 of the thinnest flowers from among the bunch, cut off the stalk and rinse. (Use the stalk for a stewed side dish.)
2

Soak the hamaguri clams in salt water, set them in a dark place (in the sink) for about 2 hours, or cover with a lid, to degrit, then clean off the shells under running water.
3

To make the broth, wipe down the kombu with a damp towel, heat in a pot of water, then remove the kombu right before it comes to a boil.
4

Add the bonito flakes to the pot, bring to a boil again, then as soon as it comes to a boil, turn off the heat. Let it sit for 2-3 minutes, then strain. (If you don't have bonito flakes, add 1 teaspoon dashi soup stock granules instead.)
5

Put the hamaguri clams into the broth, then as soon as they open, transfer them to individual serving bowls. (If you boil them too long, the flavor of the hamaguri clams will become strong and the soup will become cloudy.)
6

After removing the clams, add the ＊ seasoning ingredients to taste (to adjust the saltiness), then right before serving, add the broccolini and colored and shaped dried gluten and bring to a boil.
7

Pour the clear soup into the bowls, add the broccolini and gluten, and float a piece of yuzu citrus peel on top.