Braised Dried Oyster with Black Moss (Fat Choy Ho See)

Dried oysters are often used in Lunar New Year dishes, usually paired with black moss. Braised oyster with black moss, is probably the most famous dish eaten on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Black moss 發菜, in Cantonese is pronounced “fat choy” and dried oyster 蠔豉 is pronounced as “ho see”. The combination of these two ingredients forms the homonym for good fortune and good deeds/ better markets: 發財好事 / 發財好市.

My grandma prepared this special dish every year on the first day of the Chinese New Year. I grew up enjoying this fragrant and tasty dish as a special New Year treat. She often uses lettuce, as a base for this dish. Lettuce is pronounced “sang choy 生財” which means “to grow wealth.” Sometimes, she adds shiitake mushrooms which can absorb the luscious flavor of the stew and juices from the oysters. Shiitake mushrooms symbolizes “blooming prosperity 花開富貴”.  

The leftovers from this dish can also be used for “Poon Choi”, a Chinese casserole served during festivities. Braised oyster with black moss is certainly a great way to usher in the Chinese New Year. It is full of delicious umami flavor.

Ingredient:

Japanese Dried Oyster (Large) 8 pcs

Dried Black Moss/Fat Choy 1.5oz

Snow White Mushroom 8 pcs

Lettuce ½ head

Garlic, shallots & ginger

Vegetarian Oyster Sauce

Directions :

Rinsing and Blanching :

• Rinse all ingredients. Soak mushroom in water for 2 hours (retain the water for later use). Soak the dried oyster 20 minutes prior to cooking. Soak black moss and drain. Then add oil and mix the moss. Rinse several times until the moss is completely clean.
• Blanch the oyster and black moss for 30 seconds separately in boiling water with ginger. 

• Fry the garlic in 2 tbsp of oil and set aside. Scoop out the excess oil. Add ginger and shallots in the same wok in medium heat. Add mushroom and stir well, then add sauce (a) and cook for 25 minutes.
• Use another pan to saute the oysters with ginger for 2 minutes until golden, set aside.
• After 25 minutes, pull the black moss in small batches and add them into the wok. Fill the wok with some water, fried garlic, oysters, sauce (b) and continue to cook for 15 minutes. Finally, add the cornstarch solution (c) to thicken the sauce.
• To plate the dish, lay some blanched lettuce at the bottom. Then decorate the plate with cooked oyster, mushroom and fat choy. Here we are! A traditional Chinese New Year Dish is ready!

Click the links below for more ingredient options:-

DRIED OYSTER

DRIED MUSHROOM