Canned abalone is a popular choice for Chinese New Year celebrations, as it requires minimal preparation. But how do you soften the canned abalone to make it more enjoyable? This guide will teach you how to prepare and cook canned abalone to make it tender and flavorful.
Before you start slicing and softening, it's important to make sure that the abalone is fresh, whole, removed from the peel and clean. If you're looking for ways to cook canned abalone, try this recipe that teaches you how to stew them with Chinese spinach. Abalone canned with brine (salt & water) is lighter and is good to use it to create dishes such as stir-fry or soups.
The best way to soften the canned abalone is to cut it into thin slices and gently crush the slices a little thinner to break the muscle just a little, producing rich and tasty pieces. During the process, make sure that the water does not dry out and that the can is always completely submerged; otherwise, top up with a sufficient amount of water. You can use a flat, heavy tool (such as a blade or a meat mallet) to hit the flatter side of the meat.
Also make sure there is enough liquid to cover the abalone as they cook, otherwise they may dry out and harden. Most canned abalone contains salt or are already stewed in sauce, so be careful not to salt your dishes too much when using canned abalone. You can get canned abalone in brine (salt and water) that taste lighter, or canned abalone in sauce that are tastier.
Fresh abalone recipes tend to be much simpler and easier compared to most canned abalone recipes, with a focus on adding flavor to them. Beat each slice of abalone until tender Some people use a meat tenderizer, but you can succeed by gently tapping the entire slice of abalone with the back of a large spoon, this method softens the meat without tearing it.
It is difficult to describe how abalone tastes after cooking, as it is a very unique flavor, but the flavor is similar to that of scallop and the texture is tender if cooked well. With this guide, you'll be able to enjoy delicious canned abalone dishes in no time!
