What Are Tree ears and How Can I Use Them?

Wondering what to do with tree ears? This guide covers how to pick them, cook them, store them, and swap them — with 8 recipes to put them to work.

Recipes using tree ears

There are 8 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Thai Mini Spring Rolls

Crispy deep-fried Thai spring rolls stuffed with seasoned pork, shrimp, bean thread noodles, and crunchy veggies, served with a tangy peanut-chile dipping sauce. The ultimate party appetizer.

Open-Face Steamed Dumplings (Shao Mai)

Vegetarian shao mai dumplings with hand-rolled hot-water dough and two filling options: mashed tofu or minced water chestnut and mushroom. Bamboo steamer classic, freezer-friendly.

Bean Curd with Ginger

Ginger-loaded tofu stir-fry with tree ear mushrooms, green peas, and a sweet-sour vinegar finish. A quick Chinese vegetarian wok dish with earthy, bold flavors.

Vegetable Spring Rolls

Vietnamese vegetable spring rolls (cha gio chay) with cellophane noodles, tofu, shredded potato, tree ear mushrooms, and leeks wrapped in crisp rice paper. Fried shatter-crisp on the outside, tender and fragrant inside.

Boiled Pot-Stickers (Shwei Jow)

Vegetarian Chinese boiled dumplings (shwei jow) with handmade wrappers and a tofu, mushroom, and lily bud filling. Served with a soy-vinegar dipping sauce. Makes 24.

Shredded Pork with Garlic Sauce

Sichuan-style shredded pork with garlic sauce, tree ear mushrooms, celery, and water chestnuts. Deep-fried pork meets a spicy, tangy, sweet sauce in this bold Chinese classic.

Szechuan-Style Sliced Fish

Szechuan sliced red snapper stir-fried with tree ear mushrooms, snow peas, water chestnuts, and bell peppers in a savory garlic-ginger sauce. An authentic Chinese fish dish with wok hei.

Vietnamese Imperial Rolls

Crispy Vietnamese imperial rolls (cha gio) with ground pork, tree-ear mushrooms, bean sprouts, and bean thread noodles. Includes a homemade nuoc cham dipping sauce.

All 8 recipes