Braised Shiitake Mushroom and Sea Cucumber (Hua Gu Men Hai Shen)

Why people make this dish

Sea cucumber has one of the most detailed food-therapy profiles in Chinese medicine. Classical texts describe it as both nourishing yin and supporting yang — the kind of ingredient considered able to nourish without destabilising the body’s internal balance. It is traditionally associated with supporting kidney and jing (essence) deficiency, nourishing the blood, relieving dryness and supporting haemostasis.

More recently, research has begun investigating the bioactive compounds in sea cucumber — including sea cucumber saponins, fucoidan and various minerals such as selenium, zinc and manganese — for their effects on immune function, cellular regulation and vascular health. While the clinical evidence is still developing, the traditional case for sea cucumber is strong.

When shiitake mushroom (hua gu) — itself a widely studied source of polysaccharides with immune-supporting properties — is braised together with sea cucumber in a flavourful stock, the resulting dish is fragrant, silky and genuinely delicious.

Method

1. Soak the dried shiitake mushrooms until soft. Remove stems and set aside.
2. Cut the rehydrated sea cucumber into bite-sized chunks. Briefly blanch in boiling water.
3. Blanch the bok choy in boiling water until just cooked. Arrange on a serving plate.
4. Heat a little oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Fry the ginger slices until fragrant.
5. Add the mushrooms and sea cucumber to the wok. Splash in the rice wine, then add the stock and seasoning.
6. Braise over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sea cucumber is tender and silky and the sauce has reduced slightly.
7. Spoon the mushrooms and sea cucumber over the bok choy on the plate. Drizzle the remaining sauce over everything and serve.

Nourilo’s Tips

This dish is fragrant, silky and flavourful. It is suitable before and after surgery to support the body’s strength, and all ages can enjoy it. For best results when rehydrating sea cucumber, soak it yourself in cold water rather than buying pre-soaked sea cucumber — commercially pre-soaked varieties may sometimes have been treated with chemicals. To keep it fresh before soaking, sea cucumber can be stored with 4–5 star anise (ba jiao) nearby, which helps repel insects and prevent moisture without any harmful effects.