CNY Recipes Part 1: Sliced Abalone with Lettuce

Chinese New Year is around the corner and I'm now planning the menu over the first few days of the festivities since Kays' family will also be in town. Cooking for 8-10 pax per meal is no easy feat! So, I usually pick the simplest recipes and outsource whenever possible to make my life a little easier. :P Of course there's actually no expectation from the family to really slave over the stove, but I guess I've inherited the need for tradition from my mom so it's a self-imposed thing to make sure everything is religiously followed.

First off, this is a quick and extremely simple recipe from mom which I'd use for CNY either for reunion dinner or on day 2 of the new year. The traditional way is really to stew the abalones in the can in a pot of water first for an hour or so, but if not done properly, the abalones sometimes become a little tough. This recipe ensure abalones are still tender and juicy~

Serves 4-6
Ingredients:

2 cans Abalone (I usually buy the Mexican or Australian ones - Calmex or New Moon are good)
Garlic, Chopped
1 Lettuce

- Gravy for Abalone - 
2 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
2 tsp Sugar
1 tsp White Pepper
2 tsp Sesame Oil
1 tsp Corn Starch
1 Tbsp Water
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce

- To cook lettuce -
1 tsp Salt
2 tsp Chicken Powder
1 Tbsp Cooking Oil
 
Directions:
1. Open Abalone cans, drain and reserve stock. Thinly slice abalones
2. Bring large pot of water to boil. Add salt, chicken powder and oil. Blanch lettuce slices for approx 1 minute or until soften and quickly remove from pot & drain.
3. Mix oyster sauce, sugar, pepper, sesame oil, corn starch, water & soy sauce
4. In a non-stick pot, saute chopped garlic, add gravy mixture and cook til reduced
5. Add in abalone slices and bring to a boil
6. To serve, line dish with cooked lettuce and spoon abalone & sauce over. EAT UP!