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Wood Ear and Cilantro Salad

Rehydrated wood ear mushrooms are tossed with fresh cilantro, sliced chilies, and a bright garlic-vinegar dressing for a crunchy, cooling salad popular in Chinese home cooking.

20 minEasyServes 4110 cal/serving

ChineseSaladNo-CookVeganLow CarbGluten-FreeDairy-FreeEgg-FreeNut-FreeLow-SodiumPork-FreeCorn-Free

Ingredients

  • 1 oz dried wood ear mushrooms (black fungus), rehydrated, trimmed
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
  • 2 fresh red or green chili (such as Fresno or serrano), thinly sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tbsp Chinese black vinegar (or rice vinegar)
  • 2 tbsp gluten-free soy sauce (tamari)
  • 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt

Instructions

  1. 1

    Place 1 oz rehydrated, trimmed dried wood ear mushrooms (black fungus) in a large bowl and cover with boiling water. Soak for 15-20 minutes until fully rehydrated and pliable. Drain, rinse, and pat dry. Trim off any tough woody stems and tear any very large pieces into bite-sized pieces.

  2. 2

    In a small bowl, whisk together 4 minced garlic cloves, 2 tbsp Chinese black vinegar (or rice vinegar), 2 tbsp gluten-free soy sauce (tamari), 2 tsp toasted sesame oil, 1 tsp granulated sugar, and 1/2 tsp kosher salt.

  3. 3

    In a large bowl, combine the rehydrated wood ear mushrooms, 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro, and 2 thinly sliced fresh red or green chili (such as Fresno or serrano).

  4. 4

    Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to coat. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately or chill for up to 30 minutes before serving.

Questions

How long does Wood Ear and Cilantro Salad keep?

Dressed, it is best the day it is made. Keep the components separate and refrigerated and they hold about two days; dress just before serving.

Can I halve or double Wood Ear and Cilantro Salad?

Yes. As written it serves 4. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. There is no cooking pitfall here; the quantities simply scale.

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