White fungus - poor man’s bird nest

Bird nest, the caviar of the east, cost as much as $10,000 per kilogram and is known as the most expensive food in the world. The edible bird's nest is believed to have health enhancing effects such as anti-aging and immune-enhancing properties.


We are in luck as some researchers found that the collagen content in the white fungus is comparable to the bird's nest. Instead of spending thousands of dollars in bird nest, we can buy the fungus at about HKD10 per tael (~38g). Therefore, white fungus is dubbed as ‘poor man’s bird nest’.


White fungus has been prized for its medicinal benefits, namely anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour. In Chinese families, it is commonly used in soups cooked for soothing purposes like nourishing the bodies, healing dry coughs and clearing heat in the lungs. It is also said that eating white fungus could help keep our skin young due to the collagen content in it.


White Fungus Uses and Health Benefits:

• In Chinese medicine, white fungus nourishes and moistens the lungs, as well as improves skin complexion.
• It removes what Chinese medicine calls dryness and heat in the body by moistening and increasing body fluids. White fungus eases physical symptoms like dry skin, chapped lips, thirst, dry nose and throat, constipation, and dry coughs.
• Some clinical data have shown that white fungus has the potential of lowering elevated blood sugar, and an inhibitory effect on cholesterol levels.
• According to a report by Cancer Research UK, white fungus is also used as an immune tonic and for treating debility and exhaustion.

(source from: http://www.chinesesouppot.com/2-common-ingredients/257-white-fungus)


How to choose good quality white fungus?
High quality snow fungus should have a surface in yellowish-white with a hard yellow centre. Do not buy those pure white ones as they might be bleached.


Preparation:

• Rinse and soak the whole white fungus in cold water.
• Soaking time depends on how tightly packed the fungus florets are. Dense white fungus can be soaked in cold water overnight. Lose white fungus florets can be soaked as fast as 15 – 30 minutes.
• To speed up the soaking process, soak the white fungus for 30 minutes. Cut it into quarters and soak again for another 2 hours, or until soft. The yellow centre will still be a little hard, but this shortened soaking process is fine if the white fungus will be used in a long boil (e.g. 2 – 3 hours cooking time). The long cooking time will help to soften the hard centre.
• The core of the white fungus will remain firm even after soaked. So trim this part out.

Using it as a facial scrub?The firm core in the centre of the white fungus, supposedly to be trashed, can be used as facial and body scrub.


I found these super easy recipes
source: http://www.pingminghealth.com/article/773/white-fungus-and-lung-immune-function/

Recipe 1(Sweet): Rock sugar and white fungus soup dessert

Soak 1 or 2 white fungus in water for 2 to 3 hours. Chop them into small pieces and remove the hard part in the middle. Place into a saucepan with a thumb-sized piece of rock sugar and 3 cups of water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes.
If you cannot eat sugar please don’t use this recipe, or cook the white fungus without sugar.
Effects of this recipe: This is a very popular recipe in Chinese culture. It can help lung function, beautify and moisten skin. You can have it two times a week, especially in very dry or very hot weather.

Recipe 2(Savoury): White fungus and pear soup

Soak 1 or 2 white fungus in water for 2 to 3 hours. Chop them into small pieces and remove the hard part in the middle. Boil the white fungus together with a chopped whole pear, including the pear seeds in 3 cups of water. Boil together and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove the seeds before you drink the soup and eat the pear.
Effects of this recipe: Help to stop a dry cough, bowel movement and balance lung function. You can have this two times a week.

Recipe 3: White fungus porridge

Soak 1 or 2 white fungus in water for 2 to 3 hours. Chop them into small pieces and remove the hard part in the middle. Boil with three tablespoons of oats and three cups of water and simmer for 5 minutes. This can be part of your breakfast.
Effects of this recipe: strengthen lung function and help bowel movement.






If you love Chinese soup, there are some good recipes from Chinesesouppot

Bon Appetit!