The charm of abalone and the best recipes: Explaining everything from how to choose it to recommended ways to eat it!

Abalone is widely known as a luxury food ingredient in Japan due to its unique flavor. In this article, we will take a closer look at this fascinating single shellfish

Characteristics of abalone

Abalone are single shellfish with a shell only on one side, and are treated as a luxury item in the market due to their delicious taste. There are four main types known in Japan: Madaka, Kuroawabi, Megai, and Ezoawabi. Many people tend to think that males have blue flesh and females have red flesh, but in reality, the color varies depending on their habitat, so this method of distinguishing them is not very accurate

Seasonality and how to choose

Abalone are available all year round, but are especially in season in the summer. When purchasing, it is important to choose live abalone. Fresh abalone will respond vigorously when you lightly touch its flesh with your fingers

How to eat abalone deliciously

Abalone meat is divided into "blue shell" and "ark shell." Blue shell is firm and suitable for sashimi and mizugai. On the other hand, ark shell is soft and is suitable for simmered or steamed dishes. The liver is also delicious and can be eaten raw with vinegar and soy sauce, quickly boiled and served with sashimi, or simmered

Recommended recipes using abalone

• Ingredients: 1 abalone (about 800g), 2-3 cucumbers, some tosaka nori seaweed, 4 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 squeezed sudachi juice, some ice
• cooking:
  1. Sprinkle plenty of salt on the surface of the abalone, scrub it with a scrubbing brush, then rinse with water and drain
  2. Insert a wooden spoon into the pointed side of the shell and peel off the flesh, removing the embera, liver and stomach
  3. Place the stems on top, cut into 2-3cm cubes, and wash in strong salt water
  4. Cut the cucumber into 2-3cm lengths
  5. Put ice in a bowl, arrange the abalone and cucumber, sprinkle with tosaka nori seaweed, and garnish with diluted soy sauce to complete

Abalone, with its rarity and unique flavor, is a gorgeous ingredient that adds color to the dinner table on special occasions. Please use the information above to enjoy the best abalone dishes