Rock Ear Fungus, Ridge Gourd and Stir-Fried Shrimp

Why people make this dish

Nourilo’s younger sister brought back some beautiful mountain specialties from a trip to Wuyi Mountain — among them rock ear fungus (yan er), wild red mushrooms (hong gu), and wild-grown tea tree mushrooms. Rock ear fungus is a rare find in Hong Kong; it resembles cloud ear fungus but is smaller and has a wonderfully crisp, snappy texture when cooked. In traditional Chinese food therapy, it shares the blood-nourishing, lung-supporting properties of the wider black wood ear family, but is additionally associated with nourishing yin, clearing heat, and — crucially for cardiovascular wellness — reducing blood lipids, lowering cholesterol, and supporting vascular elasticity.

Paired with ridge gourd (also called angled loofah) and fresh shrimp, this stir-fry is a satisfying, flavour-forward dish that earns its place as a heart-health food-therapy recipe.

Method

1. Soak the rock ear fungus in cold water for about 20–30 minutes until fully rehydrated; rinse thoroughly and trim any tough base if present.
2. Peel the ridge gourd and cut into bite-sized chunks.
3. Lightly marinate the shrimp with a pinch of salt and a little cornstarch for 10 minutes.
4. Heat a wok with a small amount of oil. Stir-fry the minced ginger until fragrant.
5. Add the shrimp and stir-fry until they just turn pink.
6. Add the ridge gourd and rock ear fungus; toss together over high heat.
7. Splash in a little cooking wine, add seasoning to taste, and stir-fry for another minute.
8. Scatter in the chopped spring onion, toss briefly, and transfer to a plate immediately.

Nourilo’s Tips

If rock ear fungus is not available, cloud ear (yun er) makes a perfect substitute — both belong to the black wood ear family and share similar food-therapy properties. For an extra nutritious variation, Nourilo also notes that rock ear (or cloud ear) cooked in a soup with dried lily buds (jin zhen) and lean pork makes a calming, blood-nourishing dish. Black wood ear has a mild blood-thinning quality, so those scheduled for surgery should check with their doctor before eating significant quantities.