Uncovering the Secrets of Sea Cucumbers : Are Sea Cucumber Tendons = Intestines / Viscera?
Sea cucumber tendons are strips of muscle attached to the sea cucumber's wall. They are typically white or light yellow in color. They don't need to be removed when cleaning the sea cucumber; they are edible. Sea cucumber tendons, like human muscles, are used by sea cucumbers for movement on the seabed.
An Xing Hao's [Australian Wild Flowered Sea Cucumber] is a red sea cucumber with a dark brown surface, but its veins are a distinctive orange-red. They are actually the "coral clams" you find in Cantonese restaurants. Their refreshing and chewy texture is their most distinctive feature!
Regardless of color, some people throw away sea cucumber tendons. But you're wasting them! Sea cucumber tendons are rich in nutrients, sharing the same ingredients as sea cucumbers and even possessing cancer-preventing properties! However, a lot of sand is trapped in the crevices of the tendons, requiring careful cleaning to ensure complete removal. This involves a lengthy soaking and repeated rinsing process, making it a tedious process.
Remember! Sea cucumber tendons are not the intestines or other internal organs; they are an edible part.