Braised Sea Cucumbers

Unusual Ingredients

Braised Sea Cucumbers
Ingredients:
3 sea cucumbers, soaked and softened
1 Tablespoon Chinese rice wine
1 teaspoon Chinese black vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
3 Tablespoons Yunnan ham, slivered
3 Tablespoons bamboo shoots, slivered
½ small carrot, peeled and slivered
5 slices fresh ginger, slivered and divided in half
5 scallions cut in half the long way, then tied in knots.
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
3 Tablespoons thin soy sauce
1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
1 cup soup stock
2 Tablespoons cornstarch

Preparation:
1. Cut open, then remove sand and internal organs from sea cucumbers, and rinse then in cool water,
2, Heat wok with the wine, black vinegar, sesame oil, and one cup boiling water, and simmer for ten minutes, then remove the sea cucumber pieces, and cut them on an angle into half-inch pieces.
3. Add ham, bamboo shoot, carrot, and half the ginger pieces, and the sea cucumber pieces and reduce heat and simmer for twenty minutes, then add half the scallion knots. And simmer them minutes more.
4. Add all the other ingredients except the cornstarch and simmer fifteen minutes more,
5. Mix cornstarch with equal amount of water, add and bring to the boil, stirring until thickened, then serve.

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