Comedian Song Eun-yi introduced cockles as her favorite food in winter.
Recently, the first episode of 'Song Eun-yi's Monthly Seasonal' was released on the YouTube channel 'Vivo TV'. In the video, Song Eun-yi said, "The star of January is cockles," showing herself eating cockles. She mentioned, "I have memories of my mother always boiling cockles and eating them together as an annual event in winter." Let's take a look at the health benefits of cockles that she eats every year.
What we commonly call cockles is actually true cockles
Cockles are most delicious in January and February when they are plump. Cockles are mainly divided into △true cockles △new cockles △red cockles. True cockles have 17-18 lines on the surface of the shell. They are small, about 5 cm, and have no hair.
New cockles look similar to true cockles but have about 30-34 lines and are 8 cm long. The meat of new cockles is larger than that of true cockles, and their shells have hair. Red cockles are the largest and have a reddish color. They have 39-44 lines and are commonly eaten raw, unlike true and new cockles.
What we refer to as cockles in daily life generally means true cockles. True cockles are low in calories and fat but rich in protein. They are abundant in taurine, a type of amino acid, which is good for relieving fatigue.
The beta vitamins in true cockles help with liver detoxification and are effective for relieving hangovers. They are also rich in calcium and iron, which are particularly beneficial for menopausal women. Additionally, they contain selenium, which is good for anti-aging, and zinc, which boosts immunity.
How to Choose Fresh Cockles?
To choose fresh cockles, you need to look closely at the shells. The shells should be shiny and unbroken, with deep and clear wrinkles. Cockles that are continuously open may not be fresh. Fresh cockles will open and close when touched and show a lot of movement.
If you have selected fresh cockles, soak them in saltwater and then boil them. When boiling, it is important to pour a cup of cold water into the pot once the water starts boiling to lower the temperature. If boiled in water that is too hot, the meat will fall off easily and the texture will become tough.
After boiling the cockles for about 3 minutes while stirring well, take them out and let them cool. At this time, if you carefully remove the meat and freeze it, you can enjoy it deliciously for up to 14 days. Chewy boiled cockles can be used in dishes like cockle salad when mixed with sauce.
