Hairy or Mitten Crabs (大閘蟹) {Eriocheir sinensis}
I have featured them much earlier but this is the first time I had one cooked by myself. Instead of a number of individual photos; I also decide to break from practice and load up a series instead.
The crabs are courtesy of my ex-assistant's dad. The price of this local delicacy (highly prized for the crab roe this time of year) has sky-rocketed this year due to the scorching summer months earlier, decimating the numbers of crabs.
The best way to enjoy them is to steam them. Just 15 minutes in the rice cooker with the steamer and voila!
Very umami; very succulent; gorgeously rich.
The house was filled with the aroma of steamed crabs. Fresh crabs are never fishy. There is a light aldehydic seafoody fragrance that I never find offending.
It is customary to have them in a pair of male and female for the purpose of 'ying' and 'yang' balance. The male crab is defined by the triangular plate on the underside, while the female crab has a circular arc plate.
The locals like to consume them, with the flesh dipped in Chinese Black Vinegar with some macerated ginger. Crabs are deemed "cold food" in Chinese culinary "Ying" and "Yang" and both vinegar and ginger being "warm food" are good antidotes for balance.
Hairy or Mitten Crabs (大閘蟹) {Eriocheir sinensis}
I have featured them much earlier but this is the first time I had one cooked by myself. Instead of a number of individual photos; I also decide to break from practice and load up a series instead.
The crabs are courtesy of my ex-assistant's dad. The price of this local delicacy (highly prized for the crab roe this time of year) has sky-rocketed this year due to the scorching summer months earlier, decimating the numbers of crabs.
The best way to enjoy them is to steam them. Just 15 minutes in the rice cooker with the steamer and voila!
Very umami; very succulent; gorgeously rich.
The house was filled with the aroma of steamed crabs. Fresh crabs are never fishy. There is a light aldehydic seafoody fragrance that I never find offending.
It is customary to have them in a pair of male and female for the purpose of 'ying' and 'yang' balance. The male crab is defined by the triangular plate on the underside, while the female crab has a circular arc plate.
The locals like to consume them, with the flesh dipped in Chinese Black Vinegar with some macerated ginger. Crabs are deemed "cold food" in Chinese culinary "Ying" and "Yang" and both vinegar and ginger being "warm food" are good antidotes for balance.