蚝仔煎 Oyster Omelette (O-A-Jian)

[Ho Kwok Leung]

蚝仔煎
“蚝仔煎”是闽南方言，即将海蛎（蚝仔）煎熟的意思。该菜盛传于闽南、台湾两地，为民间所喜爱的佳肴。

食材
鲜海蛎500克（不带壳），
鸭蛋4个。

配料：
猪肥膘肉50克，
青蒜2根，
精盐适量，
味精、香油少许，
干淀粉（地瓜粉）50克，
花生油200克。

烹調方法
1
鲜海蛎洗净，剔净碎壳，下沸水锅氽一下，捞起，沥干水分、晾冷。肥膘肉切成丁、青蒜切片和氽过的海蛎、干淀粉、精盐、味精拌匀成浆。
2
平锅置小火上，下花生油烧八成热时将海蛎浆下锅，摊平，煎一会儿，磕上二个鸭蛋，摊平后翻锅煎一面，上面再磕二个鸭蛋再摊平再煎另一面。煎熟后淋上香油即成。

【特点】
原汁原味，面酥里嫩、鲜美可口。
【制作关键】
青蒜是不可少的配料；煎时要不断地晃动平锅，以免烧糊。

**Oyster Omelette (O-A-Jian)**

"蚝仔煎" (pronounced "O-A-Jian" in Southern Min dialect) refers to pan-fried oysters. This dish is popular in Southern Fujian and Taiwan, cherished as a beloved local delicacy.

### Ingredients
- Fresh oysters (shelled): 500g
- Duck eggs: 4
- **Seasonings:**
- Pork back fat: 50g (diced)
- Garlic chives: 2 stalks (sliced)
- Salt: to taste
- A pinch of MSG (optional)
- Sesame oil: a drizzle
- Sweet potato starch: 50g
- Peanut oil: 200g

### Instructions
1. **Prepare the oysters:**
- Clean the oysters, removing any shell fragments. Blanch them briefly in boiling water, then drain and pat dry.
- In a bowl, combine the blanched oysters, diced pork fat, sliced garlic chives, sweet potato starch, salt, and MSG. Mix into a thick batter.

2. **Cook the omelette:**
- Heat a skillet over low heat and add peanut oil. Once the oil is hot (about 80% heat), pour in the oyster batter and spread it evenly.
- Pan-fry for 1–2 minutes, then crack two duck eggs over the mixture and spread evenly. Flip to cook the other side.
- Add the remaining two duck eggs to the top layer, spread again, and flip once more to ensure both sides are golden and crisp.
- Drizzle with sesame oil before serving.

### Features
- **Texture & flavor:** Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, with a savory oceanic taste.

### Key Tips
- **Garlic chives are essential** for authentic flavor.
- **Shake the skillet gently** while cooking to prevent sticking or burning.
- Use **sweet potato starch** for the signature chewy-crisp texture.

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This translation preserves the dish’s cultural context while ensuring clarity for English-speaking cooks. The term "O-A-Jian" is included to honor its Southern Min roots.