{"id":8420,"date":"2025-02-03T14:01:37","date_gmt":"2025-02-03T19:01:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/omnivorescookbook.com\/?p=8420"},"modified":"2025-02-03T14:01:38","modified_gmt":"2025-02-03T19:01:38","slug":"wood-ear-mushroom-salad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/omnivorescookbook.com\/wood-ear-mushroom-salad\/","title":{"rendered":"Wood Ear Mushroom Salad (\u51c9\u62cc\u6728\u8033)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This wood ear mushroom salad is a simple and refreshing cold appetizer that is bursting with flavor, just like you\u2019d find in a Chinese restaurant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It\u2019s rare to see wood ear mushrooms salad on an American Chinese takeout menu. But if you\u2019ve been to restaurants that serve dishes more loyal to authentic Chinese traditions, wood ear mushroom salad is a dish that you can\u2019t miss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on the region, there are many ways to make a wood ear mushroom salad. Some are more on the spicy side and some are sweeter. In Northern China, we even have a version with a dressing containing mustard and honey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today I want to introduce you to the wood ear mushroom salad that my mom likes to make. It uses a simple soy sauce and vinegar based dressing that is savory, sour and slightly sweet. Then you will make a hot fragrant oil by frying Sichuan peppercorns and drizzling it into the dressing to bring out the flavor of the aromatics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What are wood ear mushrooms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wood ear mushrooms, or Mu Er (\u6728\u8033), have a crunchy texture and dark brown color and are shaped like ears. A raw wood ear mushroom has a grassy and woody fragrance, but doesn\u2019t have a strong taste once cooked. Or, you could say, it tastes like whatever sauce it\u2019s served in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dried wood ear mushrooms are a must-have item in the Chinese kitchen because they have a long shelf life. You can rehydrate them any time you need them and use them in salads, stir fried dishes and soups to add texture and color. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, wood ear mushrooms are a key ingredient in Hot and Sour Soup<\/a>, Cantonese Steamed Chicken<\/a>, and Northern Chinese Noodle Sauce<\/a>.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can easily find dried wood ear mushrooms at large Asian markets and Chinese grocery stores. You can also purchase them on Amazon<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wood ear mushrooms salad ingredients <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are the ingredients I use in the dressing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n