Reconstituting Dried Ingredients

Rinse the dried ingredients, such as dried Chinese black mushrooms, cloud ears, wood ears and golden needles, and put into a bowl. Unless otherwise stated, pour over enough warm or hot water to cover by about 5 cm (2 in) and cover the bowl. Leave to soak for 30–60 minutes or longer, during which time the ingredient will expand, becoming pliable again. Clip the stalks of mushrooms before or after the soaking and save them for the stockpot; the soaking liquid can also be used. For the other fungi and golden needles, use the soaking liquid to wash them, rubbing with your fingers to rid them of impurities, and pluck off the hard knobs and tops. Drain and wash again with water until clean.