Crispy Golden Fried Oyster Mushrooms

Crispy, golden-red fried oyster mushrooms seasoned with savory spices and a hint of chili, featuring a light, airy batter with natural frayed edges.

Ingredients

• 500 g fresh oyster mushrooms
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp chicken essence
• 1 tsp thirteen spice powder
• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 cups cooking oil
• to taste natural spice powder
• optional chili powder

Instructions

1. 1Tear the oyster mushrooms

   

   Take fresh oyster mushrooms and gently tear them into smaller, uniform strips by hand. Tearing by hand creates natural frayed edges that absorb marinades and sauces much better than cleanly cut pieces.

   Tip: Make sure the strips are roughly even in size so they cook uniformly.
2. 2Blanch the mushroom strips

   

   Bring a large wok of water to a rolling boil, then add the prepared oyster mushroom strips. Boil them briefly to remove raw flavors and soften the texture before the next preparation steps.

   Tip: Do not over-boil; a brief blanching is enough to soften them without making them mushy.
3. 3Drain the blanched mushrooms

   

   Scoop or pour the blanched oyster mushrooms into a metal mesh colander to thoroughly drain away excess cooking water. Allow them to cool slightly and release trapped moisture.

   Tip: Shake the colander gently to speed up the draining process so the batter adheres well later.
4. 4Add an egg to the mixture

   

   Transfer the drained and cooled mushrooms into a stainless steel bowl, then crack a fresh whole egg directly over them. The egg acts as a binder to help seasonings and flour adhere evenly.

   Tip: Ensure the bowl is large enough to comfortably toss the ingredients together.
5. 5Season the mushroom mixture

   

   Add salt, chicken essence, and thirteen spice to the bowl containing the oyster mushrooms and the cracked egg. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly to ensure the seasonings are evenly distributed.

   Tip: Mix the seasonings and egg thoroughly with the mushrooms before adding flour to help the batter adhere better.
6. 6Season and mix thoroughly

   

   Add salt, chicken essence, and thirteen spice powder into the bowl with the mushrooms and egg, then pour in a small amount of seasoning. Mix all the components together thoroughly until every mushroom strip is coated.

   Tip: Distribute the seasonings evenly so every bite is flavorful.
7. 7Coat with flour

   

   Add flour into the seasoned mushroom and egg mixture. Mix everything together well so that each mushroom strip gets evenly coated with a layer of batter.

   Tip: Add the flour gradually to achieve the right batter consistency without making it too thick.
8. 8Fry the mushroom strips

   

   Heat oil in a wok until hot, then carefully add the flour-coated mushroom strips. Fry them until they turn golden red and crispy, then remove them from the pan.

   Tip: Ensure the oil is hot enough before frying so the mushrooms turn crispy rather than absorbing too much oil.

Storage & Reheating

Burn It Off

Frequently Asked Questions