Braised Sea Cucumber

Ingredients

Dried sea cucumber

6 pieces

Water

for soaking and blanching

Sesame oil

2 tablespoons

Green onions

2, chopped (for garnish)

Garlic

4 cloves, minced

Ginger

1-inch piece, minced

Soy sauce

1/4 cup

Oyster sauce

2 tablespoons

Chicken broth

2 cups

Cornstarch

1 tablespoon

Water

2 tablespoons (for slurry)

Instructions

1. Soak the dried sea cucumber in water for 24 hours, changing the water every few hours to remove impurities. This process will rehydrate and soften the sea cucumbers.
2. In a large pot, bring enough water to a boil and blanch the soaked sea cucumbers for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
3. In a separate pot, heat sesame oil over medium heat. Add the minced ginger and garlic, sautéing until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
4. Add the blanched sea cucumber to the pot and stir-fry for 3-5 minutes, allowing it to absorb the garlic and ginger flavors.
5. Pour in the soy sauce, oyster sauce, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low.
6. Cover the pot and let it simmer for 2 hours, or until the sea cucumber is tender and has absorbed the flavors of the broth.
7. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to create a slurry. Add this slurry to the pot and stir well to thicken the sauce.
8. Once thickened, remove from heat. Garnish with chopped green onions and drizzle with additional sesame oil before serving.