"No Lead Added"??? This isn't a Chinese toy, is it?
When I looked up how the eggs are preserved on Wikipedia, I was relieved to discover that a) they are not preserved in horse urine, a myth we've all heard and secretly wondered about, and b) the practice of adding lead to speed the curing process is no longer being done. Wow, talk about the things you wouldn't think to worry about!
Instead, the eggs are covered in a mixture of clay, ash, salt, lime and rice hulls for several weeks or months until the yolk turns green and the white turns a clear black jelly-like consistency. They smell like ammonia (hence, the horse urine myth - a MYTH!) but taste, trust me on this one, really good. Rich, creamy and salty.
Read more about them here, and pick some up at an Asian market. Slice them and drizzle with soy sauce, sesame oil and minced fresh ginger. Eat them up, yum!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Century_egg
Thousand Year Old Eggs pictured here with Cold Sliced Beef
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Dear Patty,
ReplyDeleteThose eggs sounds very exotic! Something good to share with the family.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read my blog and happy to know we share a love of Wait Wait...!
All best,
Dorothy
Patty, Have to say, I'm trying, really trying, to follow your example and expand my horizons. However, the eggs are perhaps an "advanced" skill. I consider myself an advanced beginner, or, on an especially good day, maybe an intermediate. Have any other readers tried them?
ReplyDeleteI love those things, but never noticed them smelling like ammonia. Of course, I always had them in congee--still not sure why it's called that--so that would have masked the smell. A little disturbed by the fact that they used to use lead to speed up the process. Hmmm. That could explain some things.
ReplyDeleteThe 1000 year old eggs are the key to New Year. Highly recommend them!
ReplyDeleteI am fascinated by these eggs - though I might have to close my eyes to take the first bite! Next time I am near an Asian supermarket, I am going to look for them. Can't wait to see my seven-year-old's reaction!
ReplyDeleteOkay, I'm hungry now. I cannot leave a Chinese restaurant without my Century Egg fix. YUM. :D
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, because I grew up with them, I don't remember ever thinking they looked exotic or strange, just special. And the taste is so strong and flavorful ordinary eggs pale in comparison!
ReplyDelete