Happy Chinese New Year! Are you a snake?
Snake birthdates:
- Feb. 10 1929 - Jan. 29, 1930
- Jan. 27, 1941 - Feb. 14 1942
- Feb. 14, 1953 - Feb. 2, 1954
- Feb. 2, 1965 - Jan. 20, 1966
- Feb. 18, 1977 - Feb. 6, 1978
- Feb. 6, 1989 - Jan. 26, 1990
- Jan. 23, 2001 - Feb. 11, 2002
- Feb. 10, 2013 - Jan. 30, 2014
People born in the year of the snake are known to be thoughtful and wise, clever and cunning, logical, proud, and can be lucky with finances. They tend to be scientists, spiritual leaders, investigators, and ... magicians!?
What does this have to do with oysters? It just so happens that dried oysters are lucky ... and luck is what the Chinese New Year is all about. During the Chinese New Year, markets stock up on dried oysters to use in traditional new year's dishes.
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| Dried oysters in the Sheung Wan market in Hong Kong. Picture courtesy of CNN Travel |
First things first. How do you dry an oyster?
My kids' Japanese origami teacher told me to place freshly shucked oysters on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle both sides with a lot of pickling salt and place the oysters in a bright, sunny window for about three days. Make sure to flip the oysters at least once a day. After they dry, store oysters in a plastic container and keep in a cool, dry place for up to six months. (Disclaimer: I have no idea if this actually works. It may result in severe stomach reactions ... or worse. I will try this - as soon as I figure out how to keep my cat away - and post the results.)
Hoe See Fat Choy or Ho Si Fat Choi (Dried Oysters with Hair Seaweed)
Lucky food makes a very lucky dish. Ho Si Fat Choi is a popular Chinese New Year dish made with dried oysters and black moss. It's kind of like eating black-eyed peas and collard greens on New Year's Day. My new friend ATBOTH (http://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com) gave me his blessing to use his recipe for restaurant-style Ho Si Fat Choi. I adapted it a little.
HOE SEE FAT CHOY
12 dried oysters
8 black mushrooms
small handful of black moss (fat choi)
1/2 c. superior stock
2 T oyster sauce
1 t sugar
1 t sesame oil
1 t cornstarch mixed in 1 T water
Soak the black moss, dried oysters and mushrooms separately for one hour in water. Rinse the black moss and the oysters to remove sand or grit. Drain the mushrooms, reserving the liquid. Briefly stirfry the soaked oysters, add the mushrooms, chicken stock, oyster sauce, sugar, mushroom soaking water and black moss. Simmer until the mushrooms are soft. Add in the cornstarch water and sesame oil, stir until slick. Garnish with cilantro or spring onion.
ATBOTH also posted a similar recipe that involves pigs feet. Yum!?
Wishing your family a very Happy Chinese New Year. May it be filled with happiness, good fortune, lots of luck ... and plenty of oysters.
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