10 Ways Edible Bird’s Nests Can be Used in Your Favorite Desserts

A delicacy in Asian cuisine, edible bird's nests offer numerous health benefits according to traditional Chinese medicine. Containing bioactive compounds that exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, edible bird's nests help:

• Promote cell repair and recovery
• Boost the immune system
• Combat respiratory issues
• Enhance cognitive function

An easy way to reap the benefits of edible bird's nests is to incorporate them into healthy desserts.

1. Stewed Bird's Nest with Milk

Delicious and nutritious, stewed bird's nest with milk is great as a dessert, at breakfast, or with afternoon tea. This dessert is perfect as a light boost for in-between meals.

Ingredients:

• Premium White Bird's Nest
• 50 ml water
• 8 pieces of rock sugar or syrup
• Milk

Preparation Steps:

1. Soak a Premium White Bird's Nest from Golden Nest in water for six hours. 
2. Remove it from the water and tear it into strips. 
3. In a small saucepan, cover the bird's nest strips with water and let simmer for 40 minutes. 
4. Next, add rock sugar, and continue to simmer for an additional five minutes. 
5. Add milk and serve.

2. Edible Bird's Nest Jelly

Bird's nest jelly is a light and healthy dessert that can be paired with other sweets, or enjoyed alone. This dessert is perfect for cooling down while also feeling refreshed. 

Ingredients:

• 50 ml water
• Premium Bird's Nest Soup with Rock Sugar
• 1 ¾ tsp. Agar powder
• 1 ½ tsp. Konnyaku powder

Preparation Steps:

1. Combine a jar of Premium Bird's Nest Soup with Rock Sugar with 50 ml of water, 1 & 3/4 teaspoons of agar powder, and 1 & 1/2 teaspoons konnyaku powder. 
2. Stir over low heat until well combined. 
3. Remove pot from heat and cool the mixture by placing the pot in a water bath.  
4. Pour into small molds and refrigerate to set. 

3. Bird's Nest Dessert Soup with Coconut

A yummy dessert that's easy to make, bird's nest dessert soup with fresh coconut requires only three ingredients. You will need a jarred bird's nest, a coconut, and goji berries. 

Ingredients::

• Jarred bird’s nest
• One coconut
• Goji berries

Preparation Steps:

1. Soak the goji berries in warm water to soften. 
2. Open the coconut, put the "hat" aside, and drain some of the water. (Reserve for another use). 
3. Add the entire contents of Premium Bird's Nest Soup and the goji berries to the coconut. 
4. Put the hat back on and steam for 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the coconut. 

4. Bird's Nest Bubble Tea

Incorporating edible bird's nests into bubble tea recipes makes for a fun way to reap the benefits. This delightful drink is rich in amino acids, proteins, and minerals to boost your immune system and enhance skin and tissue repair. It helps to improve your complexion and can make you look younger.

Ingredients::

• 1-2 tbsp. dried tapioca pearls (or quick-cook 5-minute tapioca balls)
• One Premium Bottled Bird’s Nest Drink
• Flavored sparkling water or tap water (optional)

Preparation Steps:

1. Boil dried tapioca pearls for 15 to 20 minutes, then let rest in hot water for an additional 20 minutes. You may also use quick cook 5-minute tapioca balls. 
2. Add one or two teaspoons of the prepared boba pearls to a glass, followed by Premium Bottled Bird's Nest Drink. 
3. Top the glass off with plain or flavored sparkling water or plain tap water.

5. Bird's Nest with Dragonfruit & Coconut Cream

Also known as pitahaya or strawberry pear, dragon fruit is high in nutrients and loaded with fiber. When paired with edible bird's nest and coconut, it provides a balanced, healthy dessert that is light and refreshing.

Ingredients::

• 1 dragonfruit, halved lengthwise
• 4 Golden Nest Premium Bird's Nest Drinks with Red Dates and Goji Berries
• 1/4 cup coconut cream
• 1/4 cup goji berries

Preparation Steps:

1. Use a melon baller to scoop out dragonfruit and divide it among four dessert bowls. 
2. Pour bird's nest beverage over the balls and drizzle each serving with coconut cream. 
3. Top each bowl with one tablespoon of goji berries.

6. Braised Bird's Nest with Papaya in Coconut Milk

Bird's nests come in different colors. This recipe for braised bird's nest with papaya in coconut milk can be made with Premium Gold Bird's Nest. 

Ingredients:

• Four Premium Gold Bird's Nest (1oz. / 28g)
• 8 Asian pears
• 4 tbsp. Goji berries
• 8 pieces of rock sugar or syrup
• 1 papaya cubed

Preparation Steps:

1. Prepare four bird's nests and gently tear into strips.
2. Pare and cube one papaya, dividing it into four medium bowls. Each bowl should contain about 1/2 cup of papaya.
3. Divide the bird's nests into four portions and add to the bowls of papaya.
4. Cover the contents of each bowl with water and use a small plate to cover each one.
5. Transfer the bowls to a large skillet, and add water until it reaches the half-way mark on the outsides of the bowls.
6. Cover the skillet and bring water to a boil over medium-high heat, until steam escapes from the skillet.
7. Turn the heat to medium and let it braise for 40 minutes.
8. When the bird nests are cooked, carefully transfer bowls to the kitchen counter using oven mitts to let cool completely.
9. Transfer the bird nests into serving bowls, discarding the papaya and the liquid.
10. Add coconut milk and sweeten with syrup, according to taste.
11. Serve at room temperature.

Once cooked, the nests will have a slightly gelatinous texture that is tender and transparent.

7. Snow Fungus Jujube Dessert Soup

Edible bird's nest-infused snow fungus jujube dessert soup takes time, but it is worth it. Snow fungus is used in traditional Chinese medicine to moisturize the lungs, clear them of inflammation, and soothe dry mouths and coughs. High in protein, minerals, and vitamins, it contains 17 kinds of amino acids, including seven needed by the human body. 

Ingredients:

• 1 dried snow fungus
• 5 dried jujube (more if not Grade One)
• Handful of dried lotus seeds
• Rock sugar (optional) to taste
• Handful of dried goji berries

Preparation Steps:

1. Soak six Premium White Bird's Nests in water for at least six hours, and then tear into strips. 
2. Soak one dried snow fungus in a bowl of cold water for about 15 minutes. 
3. Rinse five dried jujubes of any dust, then slice in half lengthwise, so it's easier to remove the pit. 
4. When the snow fungus has expanded and softened, rinse lightly and drain. Tear it into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
5. In a large pot, add snow fungus, bird's nests, jujubes, a handful of lotus seeds, and a bit of rock sugar.
6. Cover, bring to boil, and then cook for one minute on high heat.
7. Simmer on the lowest heat possible for 40 to 45 minutes. 
8. In the final three to five minutes, add a handful of goji berries and cook until softened. Resist the urge to overcook this soup, as this reduces its nutritional benefit.

Chill in the refrigerator overnight for a refreshing summertime dessert.

8. Peach Gum Bird’s Nest Soup

Peach gum is the resin that forms on the tree bark of Chinese wild peach trees. It has numerous health benefits including improving blood pressure, lowering fat, and decreasing blood sugar.

Peach gum bird's nest soup is a healthy dessert option that tastes delicious. To make it, soak peach gum overnight. Pick out impurities and rinse. Add red jujubes, dried longan, rock sugar, cleaned peach gum, and Premium Red Bird's Nest to a bowl. Cover with water, put a lid on it, and steam in a slow cooker for one hour. 

This bird's nest dessert is filled with protein and can be enjoyed hot or cold.

Ingredients:

• 30g (before soaking) peach gum (soaked overnight)
• 2 Simply Swift® Swallow Nest
• 25g red jujubes or dates
• 25g dried longan
• 40-50g rock sugar (adjust to your own sweetness preference)
• 800 ml water

Preparation Steps:

1. Clean soaked peach gum
2. Wash and clean all other ingredients
3. Prepare the bird nest.
4. Cut off the tops of the pears and scoop out the flesh.
5. Cut figs into smaller pieces and drop inside the pears.
6. Add a few pieces of rock sugar and prepared nest.
7. Cover with the pear top and wrap in plastic cling wrap.
8. Boil water in a double pot boiler.
9. Put the pears inside and double boil for 35 to 40 minutes.
10. Remove cling wrap carefully and serve on a plate.
11. Enjoy hot or cold.

9. Asian Pear & Papaya Bowls

A healthy and indulgent dessert, Asian pear and papaya bowls offers fruit lovers the perfect way to cool off on a hot day.

The centers of pears or papayas are filled  with prepared Simply Swift® Swallow Nest , goji berries, jujubes, coconut milk, etc.  and steamed. These bowls can be made in 15 minutes using ingredients that are easy to come by.

Ingredients:

Version 1: Asian Pear with Edible Bird's Nest

• Water (4 cups)
• Golden Nest Simply Swift Swallow Bird Nest (2 nests)
• Asian pear (1, large)
• Crystal sugar (1 tablespoon)
• Dried Jujube (1, small)
• Dried Goji berries (1 tablespoon)

Version 2: Papaya with Edible Bird's Nest

Preparation Steps:

Version 1: Asian Pear with Edible Bird's Nest

1. Fill a pot with 4 cups of water and bring it to a boil. The Golden Nest® Simply Swift™ Swallow Bird Nest is then added before cooking for 15-20 minutes.
2. Clean the Asian pear. Pat it down until it is dry. Slice one inch off the top until a lid is created.
3. Use a small spoon to scoop out the core and seeds.
4. Fill the hollowed-out core with your cooked Golden Nest® Simply Swift™ Swallow bird nest, dried goji berries, rock sugar and dried jujube.
5. Place the lid you have created back onto the pear.
6. Use medium/high heat to steam the pear for 20 to 30 minutes before eating.

Version 2: Papaya with Edible Bird's Nest

1. Slice the papaya into 3 pieces. Clean the inside of the middle slice and save it for your papaya bowl.
2. Use a mixer to blend the other papaya pieces.
3. Pour the pureed papaya onto the plate and place the bowl in the center of the plate.
4. Fill the bowl with your cooked Golden Nest® Simply Swift™ Swallow bird nest.
5. Pour coconut milk over the top of the bowl and enjoy!

10. Japanese Pear, Figs & Swallow Nest Soup

Served inside a hollowed out pear, Japanese pear, figs, and swallow nest soup is a light and refreshing dessert with numerous nutritional benefits.

Ingredients:

• 3 Japanese pears
• Figs
• Rock sugar
• 1 Simply Swift® Swallow Nest

Preparation Steps:

1. Cut off the top of the Japanese pears, use a curved knife to scoop out the flesh in the middle.
2. Cut the figs into smaller pieces then put the figs into the “pear mug”.
3. Add a few pieces of rock sugar, then add in the prepared Golden Nest Premium White Bird's Nest and some water.
4. Cover the “pear mug” with “pear lid” and use cling wrap to wrap the pears up in order to keep the steam inside. 
5. Boil some water in a double boiler pot.
6. Put the pears inside and double boil the pears for 35-40 minutes from the time the water starts boiling.
7. Serve them on a plate and remove the cling wrap carefully.

Edible Bird's Nests from Golden Nest

Edible bird's nests are high in collagen making them prized for the ability to improve the condition of the skin and relieve stress. They are especially beneficial for the lungs, stomach, and kidneys. The value is high due to its rarity. For that reason, you should always buy from a reputable business like Golden Nest to make sure you're getting a quality product. 

Consuming edible bird's nests desserts is a great way to enjoy the taste of bird’s nest while reaping the various health benefits. Try experimenting with them in your own dessert creations to find more ways to incorporate them into your diet.