Tuesday 1 February 2011

Braised Mushroom With Sea Cucumber

Morning everyone! Tomorrow will be the eve of Chinese New Year and I believe most of the housewives are busy getting all the ingredients ready to prepare big feasts for the family and friends during coming New Year. And for those who are having Reunion Dinner either today or tomorrow, what is your favourite dish that you are looking forward to? I remember when I was young I always look forward to my dad’s “Ngoh Hiang - 五香” and “Steamed Yam and Sweet Potato With Coconut”.

But past few years, during Chinese New Year I will always look forward to my 2nd aunt’s Cantonese style “Braised Sea Cucumber with Mushroom and Fish Maw”. So this year mum suggests that maybe we can replicate this dish for own consume. So after checking with 2nd aunt on the ingredients and preparation methods here are our own version of the "Braised Mushroom with Sea Cucumber".

Ingredients: (serves 4 - 6)
250g Roasted Pork(烧肉), cut into bite sizes pieces
200g Dried Shiitake Mushrooms(花菇), soaked till soft
80g Dried Fish Maw(鱼肚), blanched in hot water
150g Fresh Pig Tendons(猪脚筋)
600g Sea Cucumber(海参)
4 Big Dried Scallop (干贝)
15g Black Moss(发菜), soaked till expand
1 Bulb of Garlic
3 Slices of Ginger
3 - 4 Dried Chili(辣椒干), optional
4 Tablespoon of Oyster Sauce
600ml or More of Hot Water

Note:-
~ You can also add in a few Dried Oysters(蚝豉) to enhance the flavour as well as for it's auspicious meaning of "Good Wealth" during Chinese New Year.

~ Adding a few dried chili will brings up the flavour of this dish and leave it a bit of spicy taste.


Here is a photo to show the steps on how to prepare this dish.

Method:
1. Soak dried shiitake mushroom and black moss separately in warm water, when the mushroom soften squeeze them dry to remove excess water and set side.

2. Rinse and scrap away any dirt from the sea cucumber and pig tendons and set aside.

3. Bring a pot of water to boil, blanched fish maw for about 3 minutes till soften, remove and soak in water for later use.

4. Heat up a big frying pan or pot, sauté garlic, ginger and dried chili with 1 tablespoon of oil till fragrant, add in roasted pork and give it a stir for 1 minute before adding mushroom and stirring for another 1 minute or more.

5. Next add in the sea cucumber and pig tendons and stir till the mixture is well mixed.

6. At this stage you can transfer the mixture to a THERMAL POT or Slow Cooker for ease cooking process. (for this recipe I use the Thermal Pot which I bough from Giant at S$29.90 for 5 litres pot which is cheap and good)

7. Add in enough hot water to cover the mixture, stir the black moss, oyster sauce and dried scallop. Cover and let the mixture simmer on medium heat for 15 minutes.

8. Remove from stove and place the inner pot back to the thermal pot holder and let it stand for an hour before placing the inner pot back to the stove and simmer for another 10 minutes.

9. Repeat step 8 till the ingredients soften and flavour. 

10. If you are using slow cooker, just set it to AUTO and cook for at least 2 hours or till soften.


This dish can be prepared a few days ahead and store in small containers in the fridge till later consume. And if you like this dish but don't wish to take the hassle to prepare it due to the process, you can always cook in big quantity and freeze them in the freezer which can be kept for about 2 months. On the other hand if you don't like the idea of freezing your food perhaps a thermal pot will help to shorten the cooking time.

Lastly I would like to wish everyone a HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR and stay in good Health, Prosper and all the best for throughout the year.


2 comments:

  1. Yummy dish and Wish you and your family a Happy Lunar New Year, Gong Xi Fa Cai!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This looks and sounds delicious. Even if I’m not celebrating CNY I would love to try this recipe.

    ReplyDelete

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