Garlicky Butter Abalone

Want to impress your guests?? Why not try this delicious seafood appetizer! Stir fried in fragant garlic and butter, you're tastebuds will be in cloud-nine!*

Hey Hungry Piggies! Today, I want to share with you this delicious recipe using abalone! Abalone is considered a delicacy in my family since it is super pricey. We usually use it in soups and occasionally stir-fry. One day, I was walking around my local Asian grocery store and I saw that they carry frozen abalone for a reasonable price! Score!!! I immediately thought about the restaurant that I visited in California where they specialize in seafood dishes. The key ingredients are garlic and butter. Garlic and butter are a match made in heaven. It literally goes well with ALL seafood; clams, shrimp, lobster..you name it! I love this receipe because it's simple to make but it looks so fancy. In addition, you can definitely tailor this recipe to your taste. I am a garlic lover so I love putting a lot of garlic to the abalone. However, you might want to take a mint afterwards...but i promise you won't regret making this!

Serves 3 Hungry Piggies

Ingredients:

• 3 medium size frozen abalone (1.25 lb)
• 6 Tbsp salted butter
• 1 huge spoonful of minced garlic (~6-8 medium-large size garlic)
• A handful of Vietnamese coriander/mint: Rau Ram (This can be found in asian grocery stores); roughly chopped
• 1/4 cup Roasted peanuts, crushed
• Half of a lemon; medium size

Dipping Sauce:
*There is a dipping sauce that goes perfectly with this dish. It consists of lime, salt, pepper and Thai chili pepper. I do not have the exact measurements yet (I usually just eye ball it haha) but I will definitely include it when I make it again.

Directions:

1. Using a vegetable/fruit scrubber, clean the abalone by scrubbing off the black residue off the sides.
2. Cut the abalone in half, horizontally. Then cut into long medium slices/strips.
3. In a pot, add water and bring to a boil. Add the abalone to the boiling water and boil for 10 seconds. Turn off the heat and cook for an additonal 30 seconds.
4. Strain the abalone and place in a bowl of ice water.
5. Strain the abalone again and pat down dry with paper napkin.
6. Heat a pan up and put the butter. Once butter has melted, add the minced garlic. Stir fry for 1-2 minutes until fragant.
7. Add the abalone and stir fry for 10 seconds. Turn off heat and continue to stir. Squeeze half a lemon and add salt to taste if needed.
8. Stir in the rau ram and crushed peanuts.
9. Place in serving bowl and Enjoy!!

**I advise you to prepare all the ingredients before cooking the abalone since the abalone cooks really quickly.

****UPDATE:

1. If I were to make this again, I would definitely add more butter and garlic.
2. If you have nut allergy, you can most certainly leave out the peanut. It will still be very tasty.