Braised Abalone

Rehydrate the dried shiitake mushrooms in warm water for at least 30 minutes, reserving the soaking liquid. Trim off the hard stems.

Carefully scrub the Abalone shells clean with a brush. Using a spoon, gently pry the Abalone meat from its shell, remove the internal organs and mouthpart, then rinse the Abalone meat thoroughly. Return the cleaned Abalone meat to its shell.

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Blanch the Abalone in their shells for 2 minutes, then immediately transfer them to an ice bath to stop cooking. Drain and set aside.