Abalone Grilling Perfection: The Ultimate Bbq Guide

Abalone is a type of shellfish that is highly prized around the world for its sweet and salty flavour. It is also the most expensive and rare shellfish globally. Abalone can be eaten both raw and cooked, grilled, fried, or barbecued. This text will provide a step-by-step guide on how to cook abalone on the barbecue.

How to prepare abalone for the BBQ

Preparing abalone for the BBQ is a simple process, but it does require a few steps to ensure the meat is tender and flavoursome. Here is a guide to help you get the best results:

Firstly, source your abalone. Abalone is a type of mollusc, and it is important to only select those that are alive and have their shells still intact. Give them a good shake to make them go into their shells before washing. Then, wash the abalone thoroughly in cold water, changing the water several times to remove any sand.

Once you have your fresh abalone, you will need to clean and prepare the meat. Start by removing the meat from the shell, being careful not to damage the delicate flesh. You can use a knife to help with this process. Next, you need to tenderise the meat. This can be done by pounding the meat gently on both sides until it is limp. Do not overdo the pounding, as you do not want to damage the meat.

After cleaning and tenderising, it is a good idea to place the abalone in the refrigerator overnight. This allows the meat to relax and become even more tender.

On the day of your BBQ, prepare your grill. If using a gas grill, set it to a low flame. If you are using charcoal, keep the abalone as far from the coals as possible to avoid direct heat. You can now begin cooking your abalone. Place the abalone shell-side down on the grill and cook for 3-4 minutes.

Once the initial cooking time has passed, you can then shuck the meat and continue cooking for a further 3-10 minutes on medium heat. For a more intense flavour, you can brush the abalone with a mixture of melted butter, lime juice, and garlic while it cooks.

Abalone is best served tender, so be careful not to overcook it. Depending on the size of your abalone, the total cooking time will vary. For an average-sized abalone, cook for around 20 minutes per side. For larger abalone, you may need up to 30 minutes on each side.

Once your abalone is cooked to perfection, slice and serve. You can enjoy it as it is, or add some butter, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, lemon, or chilli peppers for extra flavour.

Preparing and cooking abalone on the BBQ is a straightforward process that will impress your guests and satisfy your taste buds!

Cooking methods and timings

Before cooking abalone, it is important to prepare the meat. Start by removing the abalone from its shell and cleaning it with a little salt under running water. You can then tenderise the meat by pounding it, but be careful not to overdo it.

Abalone can be cooked in a variety of ways, including grilling, barbecuing, frying, poaching, and sautéing.

If you are grilling or barbecuing abalone, it is recommended to cook it on a low flame or as far from the coals as possible. For an average-sized abalone of eight to nine inches, cook for about 20 minutes on each side, for a total of 40 minutes. Larger abalone may take up to 30 minutes on each side, or 60 minutes in total. During cooking, brush the abalone with a mixture of heated butter, lime juice, and garlic every five minutes or so.

When sautéing abalone, melt butter in a frying pan over medium heat, add the abalone meat, and then quickly add garlic, soup stock, and lemon juice. Turn the abalone and sauté for one minute, being careful not to overcook it.

Abalone can also be poached in court-bouillon, a type of unsalted broth. Bring a casserole of water to a boil, drop in the abalone, and cook for four to five minutes. Check if the abalone is done by trying to extract it from its shell with a pin. When ready, rinse the abalone under cold water to stop the cooking process.

Another option is to cook abalone en brochette, or kebabs. First, cook the abalone in court-bouillon, as described above. Then, extract the meat, thread it onto skewers, and broil in the oven or grill on the barbecue for two minutes, turning once.

Finally, abalone can be cooked using the traditional California method of shucking and breading, then pounding, slicing, sautéing, and finishing with a squeeze of lemon.

Sauces and marinades

Abalone can be eaten hot or cold, but should always be cooked. They are delicious grilled or plain, with a vinaigrette or drizzled with lemon juice and olive oil. Marinated abalone is very popular.

A simple sauce to accompany abalone is a combination of butter, garlic, and lemon juice. For a more complex flavour, add soy sauce, dashi, and green onion/scallion.

If you are looking for a marinade, a mixture of vinegar and water can be used to marinate abalone for up to 24 hours.

For a more indulgent option, try a California-style sauce by heating butter with lime juice and garlic, brushing this mixture onto the abalone every few minutes while it cooks.

Abalone can also be served with a squeeze of lemon, or with soy sauce, ginger, or hot chilli peppers.

Cleaning and tenderising abalone

To clean and tenderise abalone, you must first ensure that the abalone is alive and that its shell is still intact. Shake the abalone well to make it go into its shell before washing. Wash the abalone in cold water, changing the water several times to remove as much sand as possible.

To remove the meat from the shell, use a knife to separate the meat from the shell, and then remove the guts and heart. Clean the abalone with a tiny bit of salt under running water.

To tenderise the meat, you can either slice the meat into the desired thickness or pound the abalone whole. If you choose to slice the meat, you can then score the upper side of the meat diagonally. If you choose to pound the abalone, do so on both sides until it is limp, but be careful not to overdo the pounding.

Once the abalone is cleaned and tenderised, it is ready to be cooked.

Serving suggestions

Abalone can be served hot or cold, but it should always be cooked. They are delicious grilled or plain, with a vinaigrette, or drizzled with lemon juice and olive oil. Marinated abalone is very popular. They can also be added to soups, casseroles, or served as an appetiser with a dipping sauce.

If you are cooking your abalone on the BBQ, there are a few simple methods to follow. One of the easiest ways is to cook the abalone whole, shell side down on the grill for 3-4 minutes, then shuck the meat and cook for another 3-10 minutes on medium heat. You can then slice or chop the meat or eat directly from the shell. You can serve this with butter, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, lemon, or hot chilli peppers.

Another method is to shuck, clean, and trim the abalone, then place it in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, pound the abalone whole, then cook on the BBQ, brushing with a mixture of heated butter, lime juice, and garlic. For an average-sized abalone, cook for 20 minutes on each side, and for a larger abalone, it might take 30 minutes on each side.

Abalone can also be served as a sashimi. To do this, slice the abalone into your desired thickness and layer the slices into the shell or onto a plate with your desired dipping sauce. You can also sear the abalone in a frying pan with olive oil, sliced garlic, and butter, before pouring in some soy sauce. Serve in the shell with a garnish and sliced lemon.

Frequently asked questions