What do Wood Ear Mushrooms Taste Like?
Wood Ear mushrooms are fun to eat and have this addictive crunchy jelly texture. They have this delicious mouth feel as they are smooth and have this little crunch when you bite into one. These crunchy black fungi are fabulous in many Chinese recipes like our Suan La Tang (酸辣汤) Hot and Sour Soup, Chinese Salads and stir fries, just to name a few. Be sure to give our Wood Ear Mushroom Vegan Stir Fry a try soon. It’s is crunchy, spicy and easy to prepare Chinese recipe that is super healthy and delicious too. Wood Ear Mushrooms are very delicate in flavor with a little earthy flavor. They act just like tofu as they pick up any flavors you have going on in the dish. This makes them a delicious way to add texture to any dish you like.
Do you know why they are called Wood Ear Mushrooms?
They kind of look like an ear, maybe even a pig ear. What do you think?
Wood Ear mushrooms are small to medium size and grow in on the side both living and dead trees, cultivated bags of sawdust or wood. This fungus is native to Asia and grows in mountainous regions. You can find this delicious mushroom dried in Asian markets around the world. Fresh wood ear mushrooms can be found in Asia Markets too.
Did you know that Wood Ear Mushrooms go by many names like black fungus, cloud mushrooms, jelly ear, black wood ear, Jew’s Ear and many others?
Rehydrating Wood Ear Mushrooms
Unfortunately, you cannot eat the dried wood ear mushrooms right out of the package. They are hard like bone and need to be rehydrated. This cool looking black top and beige bottom mushroom will puff up to double its size when soak for about 15-20 minutes in warm water. Then, they turn into a dark brown slippery guy. Funny looking fellow, right. However,” he” is so delicious.
Once you go through the steps of soaking, cleaning and trimming, they are ready for any dish you want to prepare. Grab a handful of dried wood ear mushroom. Warning these mushrooms enlarge 2-3 times from their dried state when constituted in hot water. First you soak in hot boiled water for about 15 minutes and then drain the water. Next wash wood ear rubbing both front and back really well between your fingers. They will feel slippery in your fingers. Trim off the hard stem with a knife or scissors. Slice or chop for your favorite recipe. Always add last to stir fry recipes as you want your wood ear mushrooms to keep their crunchy texture and not overcook or get mushy.
Wood Ear Mushrooms have Many Health Benefits (Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) benefits…
- High in iron – more iron than eating liver
- Lowers cholesterol
- Anti-thrombotic agent (inhibit platelet aggregation)– if you are on blood thinners, it is best to talk to your physician regarding any restrictions with this type of mushroom. Did you know that after childbirth, it is customary for Chinese Moms to make a soup with chicken, ginger, Chinese wine, red dates, and wood ear for their daughters that have just given birth? This soup is supposed to restore blood loss and to “disperse blood clots.” left in the womb.
- According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) wood ears are cooling (yin) and help provide moisture for the lungs and remove irritations.
- High in fiber.
- According to TCM can help nourish your blood, activate blood flow and detox your blood.
- Reduce the risk of cardio vascular events.
- According to TCM, Nourishes spleen stomach and lungs
- Prevent inflammation. Bring your immunity back to balance.
- Low in fat and sodium. For approximately 8 mushrooms, it is about 80 calories, has 0.3 grams of fat and 5.8 mg of sodium. However, duly noted that this particular mushroom is higher in carbs with about 20 grams of carbohydrate. ( We thought this was odd too. We have checked the carbohydrate count in several different nutrition platforms and it comes up pretty similar.) If anyone knows why, please feel free to let us know in the comment section below. However, at the end of the day if calories in are less than calories out- you know the end result.
Safimex company has supplying Dried wood ear mushroom with a good price for bulk order. If you are interested in this product, please feel free to contact us at info@safimex.com or click at https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/DRIED-WHOLE-SHAPE-BLACK-FUNGUS-WOOD_11000007717076.html?spm=a2747.manage.0.0.6e612c3cbQ1nda
Source: HWC Magazine
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