How to Cook Chinese Bird Nest (燕窝)

1. Add bird nest to a large bowl and 8 cups water to cover. Soak for a minimum of 6 hours or up to overnight. Gently rinse the nest with your fingers during the soaking and change the water once. If you see small feathers attached to the bird nest, carefully remove them with tweezers and discard them.
2. Once the nest is soaked, gently tear it into smaller long pieces along the threads.

Braised bird's nest in Asian pear

1. Cut each Asian pear into two pieces by cutting through the core about 1/3 of the way from the top. Use the larger piece as a bowl and the smaller piece as the lid. Use a spoon or melon scoop to scoop out the inner part of the bigger piece and make the pear into a small bowl. You can cut a zig-zag pattern if you like. It won’t affect the cooking.
2. Divide up the bird nest and fill 2/3 of each pear with the nest. Add filtered water to cover, a few pieces of goji berries, and 1 piece rock sugar. Cover the pear with the lid you cut off earlier.
3. Place the pear in a small bowl and transfer the bowl into a big skillet. Add water until it reaches halfway up the bowl.
4. Cover the skillet and cook over medium high heat, until water reaches a boil and steam comes from the skillet. Turn to medium heat and let braise for 40 minutes.
5. Once the bird nests are cooked, transfer the small bowls onto the kitchen counter with your oven mitts on. Let cool until it can be handled by hand.
6. You can further sweeten it with syrup or honey, if needed. Serve the bird nest warm or at room temperature as a dessert.

Braised bird nest with papaya in coconut milk

1. Add cubed papaya into 4 medium-sized bowls, about 1/2 cup papaya per bowl. Divide bird nest into 4 portions and add into the bowls on top of the papaya. Add filtered water to cover. Place a small plate on top of each bowl as a cover.
2. Transfer the bowls into a big skillet and add water until it reaches halfway up the bowls.
3. Cover the skillet and cook over medium high heat, until water reaches a boil and steam comes from the skillet. Turn to medium heat and let braise for 40 minutes.
4. Once the bird nests are cooked, transfer the small bowls onto the kitchen counter with your oven mitts on.
5. Once completely cooled, transfer the bird nest into serving bowls and discard the papaya and the liquid. Add coconut milk into bird nest and sweeten with syrup according to your taste. Serve at room temperature as a dessert.