Baby Abalone Pan Fried

• 24 whole-in-shell baby abalone, defrosted in the refrigerator overnight
• 1 tablespoon sunflower oil
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and sliced
• 4 slices fresh ginger
• 1 red chilli, sliced
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 teasoon Japanese Seven Spice (Shichimi Togarashi)

• Rinse the thawed abalone in shell under cold water.
• Heat sunflower oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the garlic, ginger and chilli, cooking until lightly coloured.
• Add the abalone, meat side down and cook until meat starts to caramelise. Turn the abalone shell side down, add the remaining ingredients.
• Reduce heat to medium-low, place a lid on, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until abalone meat is cooked through.

Note: for an added flavour sensation remove the meat from the shell and eat it whole with the gut.