Instant Pot Thai Coconut Clams

A fragrant Thai-inspired dish featuring fresh clams cooked in a rich coconut broth with aromatics like lemongrass, ginger, and jalapeños. The dish combines sweet, spicy, and savory flavors with a bright citrus finish.

4 servings
17 min

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 3 whole shallots
  • 1 stalk fresh lemongrass
  • ½ cup vegetable broth
  • 1 piece fresh ginger
  • 2 whole jalapeño peppers
  • 2 tablespoons Asian fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
  • ½ cup coconut milk
  • 2 pounds clams
  • 1 to taste salt and pepper
  • 1 whole scallion
  • ½ cup cilantro
  • 1 whole lime
  • cut into wedges
  • for squeezing

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Using the sauté function, heat the oil in the pressure cooker. Add the shallots and sauté until they are soft and browned at the edges, 3 to 5 minutes.

    5 min

  2. 2.

    Meanwhile, peel the outer layers from the lemongrass stalk and smash the inner core with the side of a heavy knife to bruise it (this helps release the flavor). Finely chop the core.

    3 min

  3. 3.

    Add the lemongrass to the pot along with the stock, ginger, jalapeños, fish sauce, and brown sugar. Stir until the sugar has dissolved, and then bring the sauce up to a simmer, and simmer for 1 minute. Stir in the coconut milk and simmer until it has reduced by a third and is beginning to thicken, 5 minutes.

    6 min

  4. 4.

    Add the clams, cover, and cook on low pressure for 1 minute. Release the pressure manually. Discard any clams that didn't open. Taste the sauce, and season it with salt and pepper to taste.

    1 min

  5. 5.

    Serve the clams in bowls, spooning some broth over them and garnishing with the scallion, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice.

    2 min