To cook a simple yet nutritious abalone porridge for 4-5 people, you will need the following ingredients:
- 300-500g fresh/frozen abalone (or 50-100g dried abalone soaked until softened)
- 150g white rice + 50g glutinous rice
- 5-7 dried shiitake mushrooms (or 100g fresh mushrooms)
- Green onions, ginger
- Common seasonings (fish sauce, seasoning powder, salt, pepper, cooking oil)
- Broth: Approximately 1.5-2 liters of chicken or pork bone broth (if available, this will make the porridge sweeter and richer in flavor).
After preparing all the ingredients, we will begin making this delicious and nutritious abalone porridge following these steps:
Step 1: Prepare the abalone.
Fresh abalone: Scrub the abalone shells clean under running water with a brush, then rub and massage a little salt into the abalone meat. Rinse again with clean water.
Next, use a spoon or small knife to separate the abalone meat from the shell. Cut off the black intestine and the black rim around the edge of the abalone. Rinse the abalone meat thoroughly, using a tenderizer knife (to help the abalone absorb seasonings easily and prevent it from being tough). You can leave it whole or slice it thinly, depending on your preference.
For frozen abalone: Thaw naturally or with cold water. Then, clean and slice it similarly to fresh abalone.
Dried abalone should be soaked in warm water for about 4-6 hours or overnight to soften it. Then, rinse it thoroughly and slice it thinly.
Step 2: Prepare other ingredients
Rice: Wash both regular rice and glutinous rice thoroughly, then soak them in water for about 30 minutes so that the porridge cooks faster and becomes thicker.
Shiitake mushrooms: Soak dried shiitake mushrooms in warm water until softened, rinse, remove stems, and slice thinly. If using fresh mushrooms, rinse and slice.
Green onions and ginger: Wash the green onions, finely chop the white part and separate the green leaves. Peel the ginger, slice half of it, and finely chop the other half.
Step 3: Cook the porridge
Add the rice to the pot along with the broth, a few slices of ginger, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 45-60 minutes until the porridge is soft and smooth, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
Step 4: Sauté the abalone and mushrooms.
While waiting for the porridge to cook, heat a pan on the stove, add a little cooking oil, and sauté the minced ginger and white onion until fragrant. Add the abalone and stir-fry quickly for 2-3 minutes, season with fish sauce, seasoning powder, and pepper. Next, add the shiitake mushrooms and stir-fry for another 1-2 minutes before turning off the heat. Do not overcook the abalone or it will become tough.
Step 5: Completion
Add all the abalone and mushrooms to the cooked porridge, stir well, adjust the seasoning to taste, and simmer for another 5-7 minutes to allow the abalone and mushrooms to blend into the porridge and the abalone to cook through. Finally, turn off the heat and sprinkle with chopped scallions.
To ensure your abalone porridge is not only nutritious but also delicious and tastes just like the ones you get at restaurants, check out these tips:
- Roast the rice before cooking: Lightly roasting the rice in a hot pan until the grains are slightly golden and fragrant will give the porridge a more distinctive flavor, and it will also help the porridge cook faster and prevent it from becoming mushy.
- Use quality broth: Instead of plain water, use chicken or pork bone broth. The broth will enhance the natural sweetness and richness of the porridge.
- Avoid overcooking abalone: Abalone can become tough if cooked for too long. Only add abalone to the porridge when it's almost cooked and simmer for another 5-7 minutes to ensure it's perfectly cooked and retains its chewy texture.
- Add ginger and pepper: Ginger not only helps remove the fishy smell of seafood but also warms the stomach, which is very good for health. Sprinkling ground pepper on top when eating will add a spicy and appealing flavor.
Hopefully, with the detailed instructions above, you now know how to cook delicious, smooth, and nutritious abalone porridge for the whole family. Don't forget to save this recipe to your list of delicious daily meals to enrich your healthy menu for your loved ones.