Ingredients:
Dried sea cucumber: appropriate amount.
Accessories:
Pure water: appropriate amount.
Flavor: original; Cooking method: braised; Time-consuming: several days; Difficulty: advanced.
Steps for Soaking Dried Sea Cucumber
Rinse and soak: Rinse the dried sea cucumber with clean water and soak it in pure water for 24 hours to remove salt and soften the sea cucumber.
Remove the sand gut: Cut along the belly of the sea cucumber and remove the hard sand gut. Cut the white inner tendon of the sea cucumber into 3-5 sections to allow it to expand more when soaked.
Boil until soft: Put the sea cucumber in an oil-free pot (preferably a pressure cooker) and add pure water to cover the sea cucumber by 2-3cm. Bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 20-30 minutes. If it is not soft enough, you can take it out and cook it separately.
Soak in cold water: After the boiled sea cucumber cools naturally, put it in an oil-free container and add pure water. Put the container in the refrigerator and change the water 2-3 times a day. Soak for 2-3 days before cooking and eating.
Freeze for storage: If you can’t finish the soaked sea cucumber, wrap each sea cucumber individually with plastic wrap and freeze it in the refrigerator for about 3 months.
Seven tips for soaking dried sea cucumber: 1. The water used for soaking dried sea cucumber should be cool and not too hot. 2. The amount of water used for boiling sea cucumber should be sufficient to prevent it from sticking to the pot. 3. If there are sea cucumbers that are still hard after boiling, remove them and continue to cook them until they are soft. 4. During the soaking process, use pure water and avoid oil. 5. Remove the sand gut of the sea cucumber and keep the inner tendon. 6. Change the water frequently during soaking to allow the sea cucumber to expand more. 7. When thawing the sea cucumber, do not use hot water to avoid affecting the taste.
