Bird's nest soup is a delicacy in Chinese cuisine. A few species of swift, the cave swifts, are renowned for building the saliva nests used to produce the unique texture of this soup.

The edible bird's nests are among the most expensive animal products consumed by humans. The nests have been traditionally used in Chinese cooking for over 400 years, most often as bird's nest soup.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

RECIPE

1. Bird’s nest chicken soup. Take 30g of whole white bird’s nest and soak it for 30 minutes in filtered water before rinsing. Add suitable amount of filtered water, chicken stock, ginger, seasoning and salt and stew for 45 minutes. Add a little fragrance and serve.

2. Stewed bird’s nest with ginseng. Use 10g of whole white bird’s nest, 10g of ginseng and a suitable amount of rock sugar. Soak the bird’s nest in filtered water for 30 minutes. Cut the ginseng into slices and place them together with the bird’s nest into a pot and stew for 45 minutes before adding in suitable amounts of rock sugar.

3. Bird’s nest porridge. Bird’s nest porridge Use 3g of whole white bird’s nest and cleanse it after soaking, 25g of rice wine and suitable amount of filtered water. Put all ingredients into a stew pot and stew for approximately two hours. If you do not wish to soak and cleanse the bird’s nest every time you cook, you may stew a bowlful of bird’s nest before hand and store it in the refrigerator. When the porridge for your little one is ready, add one tablespoonful of pure, natural bird’s nest into it and re-heat the porridge.

4. Bird’s nest stewed with pear. Use 2 to 3 pieces of natural, pure bird’s nest (approximately 25g) and one pear with skin and core removed. Place the ingredients into a stew pot and add suitable amount of filtered water before stewing for approximately 45 minutes. Add rock sugar to taste. The pear turns sour if it is stewed for too long while the bird’s nest has to be stewed for 2-4 hours. This will ensure the pear does not turn sour. It is most suitable to use house bird’s nest which only requires 45 minutes to stew. It is effective in relieving cough and nourishing the lungs. Coughs can be stopped after three to four servings.

5. Bird’s nest and fish paste porridge. Approximately 150g of fresh water carp, two slices of ginger, spring onion and a little oil and salt. Remove fish bones and make into a paste. Take approximately 15g to 20g of natural, pure white bird’s nest and add 50g of rice after cleansing and soaking for half an hour. Boil the rice with a suitable amount of filtered water for approximately 1 hour before adding in the natural pure bird’s nest and cook for approximately 45 minutes. Add in the fish paste and some coriander before serving.

6. Stewed bird’s nest with coconut milk and rock sugar. Use 15g of natural, pure bird’s nest and add suitable amounts of rock sugar and filtered water. Add 1 bowl of fresh milk and 2 tablespoonful of coconut milk after 45 minutes.

7. Stewed bird’s nest with dates.Use 10g of natural, pure bird’s nest and 50g of dates. After soaking the bird’s nest for half an hour, stew it together with the dates after adding in suitable amount of filtered water for 1 hour. This preparation is good for nourishing the lungs and quenching thirst.

8. Milk and bird’s nest soup. Use 10g of natural, pure bird’s nest and 250g of fresh milk. Soak the bird’s nest in water for half an hour, cleanse and double boil for 1 hour before adding in the fresh milk. Ideal for nourishing the lungs and stomach.

9. Stewed bird’s nest with chicken. Use 15g of natural, pure bird's nest, half a chicken, 12g of longan pulp and 2 slices of ginger. Other than the bird's nest, all ingredients should be added to a suitable amount of filtered water with some salt and stewed for 3 hours. Add in the natural, pure bird's nest after 45 minutes and it is ready to be served. Ideal for nourishment and strengthening physique.


10. Bird’s nest with western ginseng soup. Use 5g of natural, pure bird’s nest, 5g of western ginseng, rock sugar and a suitable amount of filtered water. After stewing for 2 hours, add in the natural, pure bird’s nest and stew for another 45 minutes. Ideal for nourishment and reducing body heat.


11. Bird's nest with pearl powder. Use 5g of natural, pure bird's nest and suitable amounts of rock sugar and filtered water. Stew for 45 minutes. Add the pearl powder to cold water and stir well before adding it to the ready bird's nest soup.


12. Bird's nest with apple.Use 5g of natural, pure bird's nest. Take an apple and remove its skin. Cut it up into slices and add suitable amount of rock sugar before stewing in a pot for 45 minutes.