Chinese Recipe - Abalone with Lettuce

Traditional Chinese New Year dish.

Ingredients:

• 230 g small dried abalone
• 380 g spare ribs
• 115 g Chinese Ham
• Some Chinese Lettuce
• a few slices ginger

Seasonings:

• 1 Tablespoon some oyster sauce
• 1 teaspoon light soy sauce
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch + 2 Tablespoons water

Directions:

1. Soak the dried abalones for 2 days (have to change water at interval). Brush to clean and put them into a pot. Pour water to cover and bring it to the boil. Turn off heat and cover to simmer for awhile. Repeat the process for several times, until the abalones are softy enough.
2. Drain the above abalones for later use. Chop the ribs into large pieces and put them into a small pot. Place the abalones onto the ribs. Then put on the ham slices, ginger slices and pour water to cover. Bring it to the boil and turn to medium-low heat to coddle until tendered. Dish up the abalones. Save the remaining sauce.
3. Add seasonings in the sauce mentioned above, bring it to the boil. Thicken with some cornstarch mixture and pour the sauce onto the abalones.
4. Blanch or stir-fry the Chinese lettuce until done and put it either aside the abalones or underneath. Serve.

Submitted by : Alan Poon