Sea Cucumber

[ulterior epicure]

I purchased a rather large (and expensive) sea cucumber for a Chinese New Year's eve dinner party I'm throwing. Everything about the sea cucumber turned out fabulously - except there is a horribly bitter aftertaste in the sea cucumber. I rehydrated it, scooped out the insides, and cooked it in water for 4 hours. Then I soaked it in cold water overnight, changing water frequently. Should I have cooked it in water with vinegar? Salt? What takes the bitterness away?

[Batard]

Can I add a question to this discussion? I occasionally have access to fresh sea cucumber but I have never had the courage to try preparing it. What would be a good way to prepare these when they are fresh? TIA.

[Ce'nedra]

I think (not sure) we have access to fresh sea cucumbers here in Oz but the fact that sea cucumbers have suctions which suck up dirt makes me wonder how good these little creatures are for our consumption (since they can't be too clean and all!).

[hzrt8w]

......  Should I have cooked it in water with vinegar?  Salt?  What takes the bitterness away?

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Perhaps cooking the sea cucumber with ginger?

I usually buy the already-rehydrated sea cucumbers from the market. I can steam it and pour some light soy sauce with green onions and ginger and chili. I didn't taste any bitterness. To me the sea cucumber itself doesn't seem to bear any taste. No bitterness. No fishyness. It just picks up the taste from the flavoring.

[ulterior epicure]

......  Should I have cooked it in water with vinegar?  Salt?  What takes the bitterness away?

←

Perhaps cooking the sea cucumber with ginger?

I usually buy the already-rehydrated sea cucumbers from the market. I can steam it and pour some light soy sauce with green onions and ginger and chili. I didn't taste any bitterness. To me the sea cucumber itself doesn't seem to bear any taste. No bitterness. No fishyness. It just picks up the taste from the flavoring.

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Yes, *ideally* that's how sea cucumber should taste. I'm afraid the bitterness in my sea cucumber might have been due to the fact that I cooked it without gutting it, and then soaked it in water. I should have reversed the method - soaking first to rehydrate so that I can gut it, and then cook it.

[hzrt8w]

... but the fact that sea cucumbers have suctions which suck up dirt makes me wonder how good these little creatures are for our consumption (since they can't be too clean and all!).

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I think you can say that about lobster, crab and other bottom-dwelling fish species.

Circle of life. The carbon-X molecules are re-arranged.

Edited February 9, 2008 by hzrt8w (log)

[hzrt8w]

...I'm afraid the bitterness in my sea cucumber might have been due to the fact that I cooked it without gutting it, and then soaked it in water.  I should have reversed the method - soaking first to rehydrate so that I can gut it, and then cook it.

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Yes, definitely clean the innards thoroughly. When I took the re-hydrated sea cucumbers from the market, the sea cucumbers are supposed to be cleaned but I always run them down running water to make sure they are.