Mushrooms Black Wood Ear 100g

The mushroom that is all about texture. Black Wood Ear mushrooms have a mild, almost neutral flavour and a distinctive gelatinous crunch that is unlike anything else in the mushroom range. That texture is not incidental — it is the entire point, and in the dishes that rely on it there is no substitute.

A staple of Chinese and Vietnamese cooking. Drop into a hot and sour soup where the crunch holds beautifully through the broth, fold through a glass noodle stir fry, add to a san choy bow, or use in a classic Sichuan wood ear mushroom salad dressed with chilli oil, black vinegar and sesame. They absorb surrounding flavours readily while holding their texture through cooking.

Soak in warm water for fifteen to twenty minutes before use if dried, rinse well and trim any tough base. Fresh Wood Ear needs only a quick rinse. Available year-round with reliable quality and no season to wait for.

Look for pieces that are dark, firm and intact with no sliminess or off smell.