How To Prepare Edible Birds Nest Soup

A bowl of Edible Birds Nest soup is a prized Chinese delicacy. Edible Birds Nest are expensive due to the difficulty in harvesting and the many benefits it brings. Edible Birds Nest soup does wonders for the skin, throat and lungs, as well as boosting overall health and well-being.

Lots of Asian celebrities consume this daily to look beautiful! When cooked, the Edible Birds Nest takes on a gelatin texture, making it a lovely tong shui (“sweet soup”; Chinese dessert). The highly recommended way to enjoy Edible Birds Nest soup, is just with water and rock sugar. Check out the recipe below to make that homely bowl of double-boiled Edible Birds Nest soup.

Information:

Serves: 1
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

1 piece  Edible Birds Nest
1 bowl of water
A handful of rock sugar to taste
3 pieces red dates (optional)
2 pieces dried longan (optional)
5 pieces wolfberries (optional)
3 pieces American Ginseng Slices (optional)

Directions

Soak Edible Birds Nest in a bowl of water overnight (8-10 hours) until expanded and softened.

Pluck out any feathers or debris using kitchen tweezers. Rinse and drain. To prevent wastage, run soaking water through a fine sieve to catch the small bits of Edible Birds Nest.

Add soaked Edible Birds Nest, 1 rice bowl of water, and any another optional ingredients in a small bowl and cover with lid.

Place small bowl inside a larger pot and make sure the water in the larger pot starts to boil. Once it starts boiling, close the lid for the small bowl and let it boil for 15 minutes. When the Edible Birds Nest is cooked to desired texture, stir in rock sugar to taste and cover for about 5 minutes to allow the sugar to dissolve fully. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

How To Prepare Edible Birds Nest Soup

TIPS

1. Rather than weighing the Edible Birds Nest, go by pieces per person. For one person, use 1 piece of Edible Birds Nest. This equates to about 8-10 grams per person. We use 1 rice bowl of water per person.
2. Although red dates are a common addition in Edible Birds Nest soup, we wouldn't recommend using it. According to our own experience, the cheap red dates will act like a sponge which absorb the goodness of the Edible Birds Nest soup (though it’s not so bad if you eat the red dates).
3. We highly recommend to enjoy Edible Birds Nest in the purest way – just Edible Birds Nest, water and rock sugar. You may also add American ginseng slices. If you find ginseng bitter or intend to consume at night (it improves alertness/提神), omit it.
4. Don’t fuss over prepping the Edible Birds Nest, because our Edible Birds Nest usually very clean. Simply soak the Edible Birds Nest pieces in water overnight until fully expanded and softened, but not so long that the Edible Birds Nest disintegrates into small bits. If there are any impurities such as debris and feathers (which is very normal, as it proves that it is 100% authentic Edible Birds Nest), pluck them out using a kitchen tweezer, drain, and they are ready for cooking.
5. Avoid boiling Edible Birds Nest for too long. Boiling them for too long will remove the solid chunks in the Edible Birds Nest soup, and cause it to become very watery. It will also remove all the proteins and good nutrients inside the Edible Birds Nest. The older folks especially dislike it when the stewed Edible Birds Nest soup do not have solid chunks after cooking (i.e. very watery). We highly recommend boiling them for 15 minutes max.
6. For best results, use the traditional way of double-boiling instead of an electronic double-boiler slow cooker. However, an electronic slow cooker is an alternative, subjected to personal preference.
7. It is said that Edible Birds Nest soup is best consumed at room temperature, or chilled, on an empty stomach (such as just before bed, or when you wake up in the morning). For maximum absorption, do not eat “heaty” snacks or medication a few hours before and after drinking Edible Birds Nest soup.