Salted eggs are a very common food in China. They are also used as a condiment in cooking.

What kind of eggs are salted eggs made of? How are they made? If you enjoy salted eggs, you can also refer to the salted egg yolk recipe at the end of this article to make a delicious, salty dish that goes well with rice!

What kind of eggs are used for salted eggs? How are salted eggs made?

Salting-out

Do you know how salted eggs are made? Salted eggs are cured with salt. During the cooking process, the salt penetrates the eggshell, causing the yolk to partially solidify due to salting-out. This results in a fine, sandy texture and a rich, eggy aroma.

Salted Duck Eggs

Due to this salting process, most salted eggs on the market are made with duck eggs, rather than the more common chicken eggs. This is because duck eggs, compared to chicken eggs, have less water, more fat, a thicker shell, more pores, and a larger yolk. They are easier to salt and have a better appearance and taste.

Salted Egg Curing Methods

Currently, there are two common methods for curing salted eggs. One involves soaking in salt water, which is simple and time-consuming, but the result is a salty flavor. The other involves applying red clay. Red clay, salt, or rice wine are mixed into a paste and evenly applied to the eggshell. While this method is complex and time-consuming, it produces a pleasantly salty and fragrant flavor.

After curing, the raw salted eggs are processed according to market demand: for example, the shell and egg white are removed to retain only the salted egg yolk. Alternatively, the raw salted eggs can be further steamed to become cooked salted eggs, which can then be used to enhance the flavor of various dishes.

Mooncakes, commonly eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival, often contain salted egg yolk.

How to make a delicious salted egg yolk dish?

Salted egg is an essential ingredient in salted egg yolk. It can be paired with tofu, pumpkin, green beans, okra, bitter melon, and other ingredients.

Salted egg yolk is a popular choice for many dishes. The most important step in making salted egg yolk is to mash the salted egg yolk in a pan and stir-fry until a thick foam forms. Then, stir-fry with the other ingredients, including the chopped egg whites. Salted egg yolk gives the dish a sandy texture.