Dried Cloud Ear Mushrooms
Cloud ear mushrooms are a ruffle-edged, thin black mushroom very similar in appearance, texture and taste to wood ear mushrooms, but smaller in size and slightly more mild in flavor.
Suggested uses
Basic prep
Rinse mushrooms under cold running water to remove any possible debris. To rehydrate prior to use, place desired amount into a bowl covered with boiling water and let soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse well, or add directly to recipe that will cook for at least 25 minutes.
Ingredients
cloud ear mushrooms.
Cloud ear mushrooms (Auricularia polytricha) are ruffle-edged, thin, dark brown to black mushrooms that grow on dead hardwood all over the world. They are similar in appearance to wood ear mushrooms, but wood ear mushrooms are black with a brownish-tan inner color, whereas cloud ear mushrooms are black with a slightly lighter shade of black as their inner color. Cloud ear mushrooms also have a more delicate, mild flavor and are much smaller in size than wood ear mushrooms. They reconstitute to a puffy, firm, smooth texture and have a delicate, mild flavor.
Classic recipe
Pork and Cloud Ear Mushroom Lettuce Wraps
Often found in various Asian cuisine, Cloud Ear mushrooms have a distinctive, semi-crisp texture. In the pork filling of these lettuce wraps, the mushrooms echo the crispness of the lettuce as well as the shallot and peanut garnishes, creating a deliciously crunchy dish.
