전복죽( 全鰒粥) abalone rice porridge

Jeonbok-juk (전복죽; 全鰒粥) or abalone rice porridge is a variety of juk (죽; 粥), or Korean porridge, made with abalone and white rice. Abalone is regarded as a high quality ingredient in Korean cuisine and was often presented as a gift to the king of Korea. The dish is a local specialty of Jeju Island where abalones are commonly harvested. Jeonbokjuk is known as not only a delicacy but also as a nutritional supplement and digestive aid, especially for ill patients or elderly people. Jeonbokjuk can be made with or without the abalone's internal organs. The former type of jeonbokjuk has a green tinge while the latter is more ivory in color.

Preparation and serving

Abalones are first prepared by cleaning with a brush in water, and the flesh is taken out from the flat and middle of the shells with a small kitchen knife. The internal organs are removed separately from the flesh (taking care not to damage them). The flesh is slightly parboiled in a pot of boiling water and then thinly sliced. Rice is soaked in a bowl of water 3 to 4 hours before cooking. The abalone flesh is stir-fried on a pot over a mid-flame with sesame oil, with the soaked rice then added. After stir frying for a while, water is poured into the pot and the dish is cooked at a higher temperature. Constant stirring prevents the ingredients from sticking to the bottom of the pot. After the dish has come to a boil, the heat is lowered and let to simmer. The dish is seasoned with salt or ganjang (Korean soy sauce).