Dalian Sea Cucumber（海参 haishen）

Sea cucumbers, belonging to a group of animals called echinoderms (meaning spiny skin), are one of the rare sea foods with high protein, low fat, and low cholesterol. Sea cucumbers from Dalian are much more famous as they have one more row of spines than those from other places. It's suitable to eat sea cucumbers in any season while the cooking methods are differentiated depending on the season. Consomme of sea cucumbers is suitable for summer for its light and fresh taste while it's better to eat braised sea cucumbers in winter for its mellow flavor.