New Zealand Food - Paua Fritters aka Abalone Fritters

New Zealand’s päua, (known as abalone in other countries), are all unique species of abalone
 found only in New Zealand, and are distinguished by their brilliantly coloured shells. Päua have an oval shaped shell, inside which is a large muscular foot which clings to rocks. They have a pair of eyes, a mouth and tentacles, and breathe through gills which are near their mouth under a row of pores in the shell.

Päua are found around the coast of New Zealand, in shallow water clinging to rocks. They are much more abundant, and grow larger, in the colder waters around Stewart Island and Southland.

Päua are caught when fishers free dive (diving without the use of breathing apparatus) and use blunt instruments to prise the shellfish from the rock.

I had päua fritters, a true blue Kiwi food when I was in New Zealand. Päua  is chopped and minced into a paste then mixed with batter and deep fried. Some shops use normal batter while some use beer batter.