Tender & Fresh Abalone: Butter-Seared & Abalone Liver Fried Rice
Experience the Ocean’s Bounty: Abalone Fried Rice & Grilled Abalone Delight
Savor the refreshing taste of the sea with live abalone, delivered fresh daily from Wando! Many find abalone difficult to prepare, but with a little passion, anyone can master it. Today, we’ll explore how to finely chop abalone for a flavorful fried rice and grill it whole in butter for a delicious appetizer or a special treat. The grilled abalone, served whole, is also a fantastic side dish!
Ingredients
- 6 live abalones
- 1 piece of butter (approx. 10g)
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 stalks scallions
- 1 Tbsp mirin (rice wine)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 2 bowls cooked rice
- 2 Tbsp oyster sauce
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Gently scrub the live abalone with a soft brush to remove any dirt and rinse thoroughly. Blanch the abalone in boiling water for about 10 seconds, then immediately remove and place on a rack to cool. This brief blanching makes them much easier to handle.
Step 2
Once slightly cooled, carefully insert a spoon between the abalone meat and the shell. Gently pry the meat away from the shell; it should separate cleanly and easily with this method. Trying to pry raw abalone can result in a fishy smell and make the meat difficult to detach.
Step 3
Your abalone is now neatly prepared!
Step 4
Carefully cut away the dark innards from the back of the detached abalone meat. (Set these innards aside; they’ll be used for the fried rice!)
Step 5
Now, prepare the abalone for cooking. If grilling whole, score the inner side of the abalone meat in a criss-cross pattern. This helps it cook evenly and results in a beautiful presentation. Alternatively, for the fried rice, you can dice the abalone meat into small pieces.
Step 6
Melt a piece of butter in a heated pan over medium-low heat. Be careful not to burn the butter.
Step 7
Once the butter is melted, add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant. Then, add the abalone and stir-fry together. The butter and garlic will infuse the abalone with wonderful flavor.
Step 8
This whole abalone, seared in butter, makes an excellent appetizer or snack, perfect with drinks or for children. The savory butter aroma and chewy texture of the abalone are truly delightful!
Step 9
Now, let’s make the abalone liver fried rice! Place the reserved abalone innards and two cups of cold water into a blender and blend until smooth. (This creates the base for two bowls of fried rice.)
Step 10
In the same pan, add the chopped scallions and sauté briefly. Then, add the blended abalone liver mixture, mirin, and sesame oil. Bring to a simmer, then add the two bowls of warm cooked rice. Stir well with a spatula, breaking up any clumps, and stir-fry until the rice is coated. If the mixture becomes too thick while cooking, add a little more water to reach your desired consistency.
Step 11
Once the rice is well-fried, add the oyster sauce and continue to stir-fry until the flavors are well combined. Taste and add a pinch of salt if needed to perfectly season your abalone liver fried rice.
Step 12
Serve the flavorful abalone liver fried rice on a beautiful plate. Top with the beautifully prepared grilled abalone for a stunning presentation of your abalone feast!
