Jellyfish, daikon and chicken breasty salad

3 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
½ pounds Dried, salted whole jellyfish
1 1-pound daikon radish
2 teaspoons Salt
½ large Chicken breast
½ Egg white
1 teaspoon Cornstarch
1 teaspoon Sesame oil
½ teaspoon Salt
1½ teaspoon Sugar
2 teaspoons Dry sherry
3 tablespoons Peanut oil
2 tablespoons Sesame oil
3 Scallions, chopped

Directions

Here's a classic Chinese "texture" dish, a cold salad made of with dried jellyfish. I know jellyfish sounds bizarre, but, after soaking, the jellyfish has a texture similar to woodears-crunchy and crisp with little taste of its own. I consider the addition of the chicken to be a sop to those who like to see recognizable things in their food...

Actually, this would probably be quite good with just the chicken or just the jellyfish. It has a light dressing made of mixed oils and wine. Very nice on a hot summers day. More than likely, you'll have to go to a Chinese market to get the jellyfish. This is another recipe from my huge pile of clippings. It's from the SF Chronicle, but I don't know the date.

Soak the jellyfish in a large bowl of cold water for 24 hours, changing the water a couple of times. Peel the daikon with a vegetable peeler; slice thinly; stack slices and cut into matchstick shreds. Put into a mixing bowl, toss with the 2 teaspoons of salt and let stand 1 hour.

Meanwhile, drain water from jellyfish. Pour boiling water over the jellyfish and let stand for 15 seconds. Drain and run under cold water. Set aside.

Bone the chicken breast and slice thinly; cut slices into shreds. Mix chicken with the egg white, cornstarch and teaspoon of sesame oil; refrigerate for 30 minutes.

While the chicken is marinating, cut jellyfish into the thinnest possible shreds by rolling up each sheet and slicing it thinly. Place in a large bowl. Wring most of the moisture from the daikon shreds; add to the bowl with the jellyfish. Heat 3 cups water in a saucepan.

When boiling, turn off the heat and add the chicken shreds, stirring to separate the pieces. Simmer for 1 minute. Drain and rinse under cold water. Drain and add to the bowl with the jellyfish.

Blend the salt and sugar with the wine until they dissolve. Heat the oils in a saucepan and add the seasoned wine. It will sputter and evaporate. When the oil is hot++don't let it smoke++turn off the heat and add the scallions. Cool. Toss with the salad just before serving.

Posted by Stephen Ceideburg; February 26 1991.

Related recipes