Bird Saliva Nest recipe: How to cook Bird Saliva Nest with rock sugar Properly

Bird Saliva Nest recipe: How to cook Bird Saliva Nest with rock sugar Properly

In addition to being rare and precious, Bird Saliva Nest have many health benefits. However, improper cooking techniques could destroy the nutrients rendering the Bird Saliva Nest useless and tasteless. Follow our recipe for a nutritiously delicious a bowl of Bird Saliva Nest with rock sugar:

Bird Saliva Nest (Chinese: 燕窝, yàn wō ; Vietnamese: Yến sào, Tổ Yến) is a delicacy. The Bird Saliva Nests are among the most expensive animal products consumed by humans. The nests have been traditionally used in Chinese cooking for over 400 years, most often as Bird Saliva Nest, which is said to have high levels of calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium and are believed to strengthen the immune system, raising the libido and aiding digestion.

The Bird Saliva Nests are among the most expensive animal products consumed by humans
People cook Bird Saliva Nest mainly to enjoy its texture. By itself, it practically has no taste, so adding a bit rock sugar will really infuse this soup with the amazing flavor.

How to Use:

- Soak 1 Bird Saliva Nest in cold water for 3-5 hours or until it is soft. Drain and rinse twice.
- Add Bird Saliva Nest, a teaspoon of rock sugar and 1/2 cup of water to a ramekin.
- You can add 2 slices of ginger to enhance the flavor. Place the ramekin into a large pot.
- Pour enough water into the pot to come 1/5 way up the sides of the ramekin.
- Close the lid and put on high heat until the water boils then decrease to low heat to a simmer (please see cooking time below)*.
- Remove the ramekin from the pot. Bird Saliva Nests can be served hot or cold depends on your preference.

Recommended cooking time:

1. House Nests including White, Pink and Red Nests: 30 to 45 minutes
2. Wild Cave White Nests: 90 to 120 minutes
3. Wild Cave Red Nests: 2 to 3 hours
Do not over cook Bird Saliva Nests. Bird Saliva Nests should have a crunchy (not soggy) consistency. In addition, it’s very important to cook Bird Saliva Nests using low heat to preserve the nutrients, especially the essential amino acids.

Why Chinese Eat Bird Saliva Nest and you probably should too!

The Hidden Facts & Nutritions

Bird Saliva Nest is one of the most popular delicacies among the Chinese communities due to its valuable nutritional components and health-promoting effects. Most of the people in the Southeast Asia region consume Bird Saliva Nest as a delicious and nutritious food.
Nature has gifted the Bird Saliva Nest with high value nutritional components. The findings regarding the ingredients of Bird Saliva Nest, some called it as the Chinese Bird Saliva Nest, fully justify it as a prized delicacy and effective medicine according to Chinese community.

Total Composition of Bird Saliva Nest (in percent proximate analysis)

Moisture (7.5 – 12.9)
Ash (2.1 – 7.3)
Fat (0.14 – 1.28)
Proteins (42 – 63)
Carbohydrates (10.63 – 27.26)
Total Nitrogen (25.62 – 27.26)

Amino Acid Composition of Bird Saliva Nest (in Molar percent)

Aspartic acid + asparagine (2.8 – 10.0)
Threonine (2.7 – 5.3)
Serine (2.8 – 15.9)
Glutamic acid + glutamine (2.9 – 7.0)
Glycine (1.2 – 5.9)
Alanine (0.6 – 4.7)
Valine (1.9 – 11.1)
Methionine (0 – 0.8)
Isoleucine (1.2 – 10.7)
Leucine (2.6 – 3.8)
Tyrosine (2.0 – 10.1)
Phenylalanine (1.8 – 6.8)
Lysine (1.4 – 3.5)
Histidine (1.0 – 3.3)
Arginine (1.4 – 6.1)
Tryptophan (0.02 – 0.08)
Cysteine (2.44)
Proline (2.0 – 3.5)

Fatty Acid (% analysis) / Triacyl Glycerol (% analysis) and Vitamin (mg/100gr) Composition of Bird Saliva Nest

Palmitric C16:0 (23-26)
Steric C18:0 (26-29)
Linoleic C18:1 (22)
Linolenic C18:2 (26)
PPO (14-16)
OOL (13-15)
PLn Ln (18-19)
Monoglycerides (27-31)
Diglycerides (21-26)
Vitamin A (0.0771 – 0.912)
Vitamin D (0.15 – 3.19)
Vitamin C (0.12 – 29.30)

Mineral composition of Bird Saliva Nest (measured in ppm)

Sodium (330-20,554)
Potassium (110-2645)
Calcium (798-14,850)
Magnesium (330-2980)
Phosphorus (40-1080)
Iron (30-1860)
Sulphur (6244-8840)
Manganese (3.58-122.10)
Zinc (19.95-72.40)
Copper (4.68-110.65)
Molybdenum (0-0.94)
Cobalt (0-0.63)
Nickel (0-0.47)
Vanadium (0.03-2.84)
Chromium (0-7.45)
Regular consumption of Bird Saliva Nest as a tonic helps high-spirited physical and mental strength in addition to youthfulness restoration. Besides, it improves skin complexion and slowing down the aging process.
Proteins form a considerable fraction of the composition of Bird Saliva Nest. These help in the building and repair of body cells and tissues, and driving other metabolic functions. Carbohydrates form another major portion of the composition of Bird Saliva Nest with sialic acid as one of the major carbohydrates. Sialic acid has been known for mediating the distribution and structure of gagliosides in brain. Exogenous supplies of sialic acid enhance the neurological and intellectual processes in infants. Thus, sialic acid in Bird Saliva Nest enhances the intellectual and mental development, however, its nutritional and biological mechanisms in human body are not fully known yet.
Essential trace elements such as phosphorus, calcium, sodium, iron, potassium, iodine, and essential amino acids are some main and major ingredients in Bird Saliva Nest. In response to these facts, Bird Saliva Nest acts as a highly nutritive and restorative food with sweet and calm character, and can be consumed by all age groups of all genders.
The frequent consumption of Bird Saliva Nest by ladies makes their complexion fairer, and gives them radiant look. Additionally, during the periods of pregnancy in women, consuming Bird Saliva Nest help to improve immunity of fetus and helps in easy recovery from debilitation after child birth.
The health effects of Bird Saliva Nest in elderly people include strengthening of lungs and kidneys, phlegm clearance, fortifying of spleen and enhancing appetite. Bird Saliva Nest helps to boost immunity in children. It is quite noteworthy that Bird Saliva Nest extracts contain anti-common flu properties and, therefore, Bird Saliva Nest may be regarded as a safe and natural source of proteins for the prevention of influenza.
Overall, Bird Saliva Nest is a complete food enriched with a diverse pool of proteins, lipids, amino acids, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. This food either as Bird Saliva Nest or in the form of beverages has got exciting health value as well as nutritional benefits. Chinese people have known about the secrets of Bird Saliva Nest many years ago, would you give it a try? Feel free to write your comments below.