Pear with Snow Fungus Soup | Shredded Pear with White Fungus Soup [Nyonya Cooking] 

🤤 RECIPE: www.nyonyacook...
Snow fungus is often used in Asian soups and drinks due to its health properties. Also known as white fungus, it is often cooked together with a sweet fruit and made into desserts. The nutrients from the snow fungus are said to be equivalent to that of the expensive bird’s nest.
Just like bird’s nest, the snow fungus has anti-ageing properties that are able to help in reducing collagen losses. One can definitely call it the poor man’s bird’s nest because snow fungus is so much cheaper yet nutritious. Instead of [using apple](www.nyonyacook...) in this recipe, I am using the Korean pear or also known as Nashi pear to prepare this dessert. Korean pears have plenty of health benefits too. Hence, this snow fungus soup is a definite health booster as it detoxifies, dissolves mucus, treats constipation, heals sore throat and relieves cough besides being a thirst quencher. In fact, this soup also helps to boost the immune system, according to traditional Chinese medicine practitioners.
Before using the snow fungus, hydrate it in water until it softens. Remove the hard parts of the snow fungus as only the softer parts are used to make the dessert. Rinse it thoroughly to get rid of any dirt. The snow fungus should be cut into slices and the Korean pear, shredded. Once cooked, both ingredients combined well, thus making the soup more delightful to consume.
Type of pear to use
Just for your information, the Nashi pear belongs to the rose family. Thus, it is no surprise to smell the fragrant sweetness released by the pear after double boiling the soup for 4 hours. Although it takes quite long for this dessert to be ready but it is surely worth the effort. Moreover, double-boiling for long hours is a tradition that goes way back. It helps to lock in the nutrients as it gently cooks the soup. If you are unable to find Nashi pear, use Chinese pear instead. It has a light yellow skin and can be found at your local grocer. I had tried using both types of pears in preparing this dessert. However, I noticed that the final result is different. The Chinese pear is not as sweet and juicy as the Nashi pear. That being the case, just sweeten the soup with another honey date or add more rock sugar.
Double boiling
Traditionally, most Chinese households have a double boiler. Unfortunately, I do not possess one, so I had to be creative. I managed by placing the soup in a ceramic bowl and covering it with a plate, then double boiling it in a cast iron pot. This works just as well as a double boiler. I had been using this method for years now and had never encountered any problems. So, try this method if you do not own a double boiler.
Boiling soup over direct heat
Boiling the soup directly is also possible but the heat is much harsher compared to double boiling. A lot of nutrients is perceived to be lost if it is cooked directly over the stove. Admittedly, I sometimes do so as it does not take long for the ingredients to soften. Therefore, I guess it depends on the time and tools you have in hand. Either way, you will still be rewarded with a great and nutritious thirst quencher.