Wood Ear Mushroom Braised Chicken (Yun Er Men Ji)

Why people make this dish

Nourilo came across this dish while teaching a postpartum care class — the classic postpartum “chicken wine” (ji jiu) uses generous amounts of glutinous rice wine together with black wood ear fungus, red dates and ginger to support a new mother’s recovery. But you don’t need to be postpartum to enjoy the logic behind this combination. A modest splash of glutinous rice wine in a home-cooked chicken braise adds wonderful fragrance and warmth, and the wood ear fungus and red dates bring their own nourishing qualities. This is a dish any household can make on a regular weekday.