STEAMED SOFT SOFT CABBAGE

Cabbage,

any way you cook it,

be it raw, stir fried or steamed,

is just as tasty and nice. 

I remember this Steamed Soft Soft Cabbage

was once a popular dish 

in a celebration feast or dinner.

This is flavourful

with the aroma of dried scallop and dried oyster

and the sweetness of cabbage.

It is served in a thick gravy.

It is not difficult to cook this dish
provided you have sufficient time allotted for steaming.

Steamed Soft Soft Cabbage

1 small cabbage (buy one with the leaves tightly cling together) 

few dried scallop

few dried oyster

1-2 dried mushroom, optional

few garlic, roughly smashed

few pieces of roast pork

chicken stock

thickener, corn flour mix with some water

1. remove the centre core of the cabbage, as shown in the photo below

2. put all ingredients into a steaming bowl as shown,

    steam until the cabbage is soft, about 1.5-2 hours.

3. when ready to serve, remove & cut the cabbage into wedges

4. thicken the gravy and pour onto the cabbage to serve.

Note:

1. Napa or long cabbage can be used instead of this round type
2. This dish can be prepared days ahead & chilled, must steam to serve

If you like to have a more elaborate dish for Chinese New Year,

here is one that has been adapted with 

Long Chinese Cabbage 

& 

Canned Abalone

No additional cooking is required.

Just slice the abalone, 

pour the abalone gravy from the can into the steaming vegetable.

When ready to serve,

arrange the vegetable in the serving plate.

Thicken the gravy.

Arrange the abalone pieces on the vegetable

before pouring the thicken gravy over.

Enjoy!

Abalone 

is a delicacies much sort after for the Chinese New Year Celebrations.

Types:

You can either buy dried abalone or canned.

Dried abalone requires much preparation before it can be presented on the table.

It needs to be soaked, cleaned and double boiled to the required texture.

Canned ones can be consumed once opened!

Country of Origin:

Abalone from Mexico tastes the best, so you need to pay a higher price for it.

South African Abalone tastes quite similar to that of the Mexican ones.

Next comes Australia & New Zealand (these have softer texture)

Size:

Abalone is measured by the number of pieces in

a) 1 kati for Dried Abalone, e.g. 5 pieces in 1 kati is considered big!

b) 1 can for Canned Abalone, e.g. 1.5 pieces in 1 can is considered big!

    

Caution:

Canned Abalone is costly, so best to buy can that is spray painted 

instead of those with paper stickers which can be removed and replaced!