Pāua or more commonly known as Blue Abalone outside of New Zealand, has been a favourite in Kiwi’s seafood menu. How do we eat it? There is no other answers. Creamed is the ultimate way of processing Pāua.
If you haven’e known already, here’s our version of making the best creamed Pāua dish that is simple, easy and delicious.
Ingredients:
- 3 pāua, removed from their shells and cleaned (or approximately 380–450 grams minced Pāua)
- 25 grams of butter
- 1 teaspoon of olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 1⁄2 cups of cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
Method:
- If you choose to use whole pāua, begin by ensuring the pāua are thoroughly cleaned. Remove the teeth and gut sac completely, and rinse them meticulously under cold running water.
- To tenderise the whole pāua, place them on a wooden chopping board, covering them with a tea towel to prevent slipping, and gently pound them on both sides with a meat tenderiser. Pay special attention to the edges, which tend to be tougher.
- If you prefer minced pāua, chop them into smaller pieces and run them through a mincer or high-speed blender. Note that the consistency may differ when using a blender, and some pāua may stick around the blade; using a meat mincer is recommended. For sliced pāua, either leave them whole or cut them in half lengthwise, then thinly slice them (5 millimetres) using a sharp knife.
- Heat the butter and olive oil in a skillet or frying pan over medium heat.
- Add the diced onion and minced garlic, and cook until they become softened without browning.
- Incorporate the pāua and sauté them, stirring and turning frequently to ensure even cooking. Depending on whether you’re using minced or sliced pāua, this should take approximately 10 minutes. Avoid over-browning; the goal is to cook them until they are tender to the bite.
- Pour in the cream and bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer until it thickens slightly. This should only take a few minutes.
- Season the dish with salt and pepper to your taste, and serve immediately!
Best combination for Creamed Pāua: Fry Bread.
