Grilled Cockle Skewers with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Ingredients

• 500g (1.1 lb) cockles, cleaned and rinsed 500g (1.1 lb) cockles, cleaned and rinsed
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon sweet soy sauce (kecap manis) 1 tablespoon sweet soy sauce (kecap manis)
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 10-12 bamboo skewers, soaked in water 10-12 bamboo skewers, soaked in water
• For the Spicy Peanut Sauce: For the Spicy Peanut Sauce:
• 150g (1 cup) roasted peanuts 150g (1 cup) roasted peanuts
• 2 cloves garlic 2 cloves garlic
• 2 red chili peppers, seeded 2 red chili peppers, seeded
• 1 tablespoon tamarind paste 1 tablespoon tamarind paste
• 2 tablespoons sweet soy sauce (kecap manis) 2 tablespoons sweet soy sauce (kecap manis)
• 1 tablespoon palm sugar (or brown sugar) 1 tablespoon palm sugar (or brown sugar)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 200ml (3/4 cup) water 200ml (3/4 cup) water

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 320 kcal / 1340 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 18g, 3g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 20g, 5g
• Protein: 22g
• Fiber: 4g
• Salt: 1.5g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a bowl, combine the vegetable oil, sweet soy sauce, turmeric powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix well.
2. 2.
   Add the cleaned cockles to the marinade and toss until they are evenly coated. Let them marinate for at least 30 minutes.
3. 3.
   Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
4. 4.
   Thread the marinated cockles onto the soaked bamboo skewers.
5. 5.
   Grill the skewers for about 2-3 minutes on each side, or until the cockles are cooked through and slightly charred.
6. 6.
   Meanwhile, prepare the spicy peanut sauce. In a blender or food processor, combine the roasted peanuts, garlic, red chili peppers, tamarind paste, sweet soy sauce, palm sugar, salt, and water. Blend until smooth.
7. 7.
   Transfer the peanut sauce to a saucepan and heat over medium heat until it thickens slightly, stirring occasionally.
8. 8.
   Serve the grilled cockle skewers with the spicy peanut sauce on the side. Enjoy!

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Cockles — Ensure that the cockles are fresh and properly cleaned before marinating. Discard any cockles that do not close when tapped or have broken shells.
• Sweet soy sauce (kecap manis) — Look for Indonesian or Asian grocery stores to find authentic sweet soy sauce. If unavailable, you can make a substitute by combining equal parts soy sauce and brown sugar.

Tips & Tricks

• Soaking the bamboo skewers in water prevents them from burning during grilling.
• Adjust the spiciness of the peanut sauce by adding more or fewer chili peppers according to your preference.
• Serve the dish with a squeeze of fresh lime juice for an extra burst of citrus flavor.
• If you can't find cockles, you can substitute them with other small seafood like clams or mussels.
• For a smokier flavor, you can grill the cockles over charcoal instead of a gas grill.

Serving advice

Serve the Grilled Cockle Skewers with Spicy Peanut Sauce as a main course alongside steamed rice and fresh cucumber slices. Garnish with chopped cilantro and a sprinkle of fried shallots for added flavor and texture.

Presentation advice

Arrange the grilled cockle skewers on a platter, drizzle the spicy peanut sauce over them, and sprinkle with chopped cilantro and fried shallots. Serve with a side of steamed rice and cucumber slices for a visually appealing and appetizing presentation.