Cold Tossed Wood Ear Mushrooms is a refreshing and classic cold dish. The wood ear mushrooms are crunchy and bouncy after soaking, paired with garlic, vinegar, and chili oil for a tangy, spicy kick. It’s low-calorie and healthy, perfect with rice or hot pot.
🌴 Ingredients:
· 20g dried wood ear mushrooms (soaked in cold water, torn into small pieces)
· 1 green bell pepper (shredded, for color)
· 1 red bell pepper (shredded, for color)
🌴 Aromatics:
· 4-5 cloves minced garlic
· 2 small spicy chilies (sliced, optional)
· 1 stalk cilantro (chopped)
· A small pinch of toasted white sesame seeds (for garnish)
🌴 Seasonings:
· 2 tbsp light soy sauce (about 20ml)
· 2 tbsp Chinkiang vinegar (about 20ml)
· 1 tbsp sesame oil (about 10ml)
· 1 tbsp chili oil (about 10ml, optional)
· 1 tsp sugar (about 5g, to enhance flavor)
· Salt, to taste
🌴 Instructions:
- Soak the Mushrooms
Soak the dried wood ear mushrooms in cold water for 2-3 hours. Tear into small pieces and wash off any grit. ⚠️ Note: Never use hot water, or the mushrooms will become mushy. I’ve tried it, and they turned soft and lost their texture. - Blanch the Mushrooms
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Blanch the mushrooms for 2 minutes, then drain and rinse with cold water. ⚠️ Note: Rinsing with cold water keeps them crisp. - Make the Dressing
In a small bowl, mix the light soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, chili oil, sugar, and a pinch of salt. ⚠️ Note: The ratio of vinegar to sugar is about 2:1 for the perfect balance. - Mix and Serve
Place the mushrooms, green pepper, and red pepper in a large bowl. Add the minced garlic, chilies, and cilantro. Pour in the dressing and mix well. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve. ⚠️ Note: Let it sit for 5 minutes before serving for better flavor.
💡 Tips:
The key to Cold Tossed Wood Ear Mushrooms is “crunchy mushrooms, tangy and spicy flavor.” Soak the mushrooms in cold water; hot water makes them mushy. Blanch for 2 minutes and rinse with cold water for the best crunch. The ratio of vinegar to sugar is about 2:1.
If you enjoy this crunchy and tangy flavor, you should also try my Smashed Cucumber Salad. For more cold dishes and appetizers, check out my Cold Dishes category.
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