Shanghai Traditonal Food
By admin on 2015-01-29

The hairy crab is known as one sort of the freshwater crab. The freshwater crab, with Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) as its scientific name, is widely distributed along the long coastline from Liaohe River in Northern China to Zhujiang River in the South. Moreover, it boasts the largest output as well as the most delicious taste in the Yangtze River water system. Exteriorly, the freshwater crab is characterized by a green back, a white abdomen, golden claws and yellow setae. Generally speaking, the hairy crab refers specifically to Eriocheir sinensis from the Yangtze River water system, among which, that from the Yangcheng Lake enjoys the best reputation.

The history of Chinese eating crabs dates back to as early as the Western Zhou Dynasty. As recorded in both Zhou Rites and Zi Lin (a reference book on philology) in the Jin Dynasty, the history lasts 2700 years or so. It is around the Mid-Autumn Day every year that the hairy crab is gradually on the market. It can be cooked in various ways, such as steaming, water boiling, flour coating and wine preserving. Talking of the hairy crab from Yangcheng Lake specifically, it is usually steamed, boiled and shelled before being eaten. Ever since the ancient times, eating crabs has been a refined pleasure which requires careful study. Imagine the tangerine crab cream, white jade-like grease, white and tender meat. Isn’t it delightful to eat them dipped in sugar, vinegar and ginger powder while inviting a couple of intimate friends for cups of good wine? Besides, it will be of a distinctive flavor to pick out crab meat and make with it noodles or steamed buns. Li Bai, a famous poet of the Tang Dynasty, once wrote in his poetry about the bliss of having good wine and delicious food while savoring crabs.

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  The Origin of the Name

• Habitually, Chinese mitten crab is called "Dazha crab" (i.e., hairy crab) in China, literally, big sluice crab. Then, where does the name come from?
  
  

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• The First Person to Eat a Crab

• Though well-known worldwide, the hairy crab from Yangcheng Lake appears terrifying. Then who was the first man to eat the crab?
  
  

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  Utensils in Eating a Crab

• As early as in the Ming Dynasty, skillful craftsmen invented a complete set of utensils for eating a crab. As recorded in Study on Eating, a guidebook to delicious food in the Ming Dynasty, the set...
  
  

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  Steamed Hairy Crabs

• Steamed Hairy Crabs

• Steaming is the most classical way to cook the hairy crab, intended mainly to highlight the original flavor of the crab and preserve, to the utmost, its appearance, aroma and taste. Steamed crabs...

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  Spicy Salt Crabs

• This dish goes well with wine. Cut fresh and clean crabs into pieces. Marinate them for a couple of minutes in shallot, ginger and cooking wine. Coat them in flour paste and then fry them till they...
  
  

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  Huaiyang Steamed Rice with Crab Roe

• It looks inviting that the tangerine crab and the steamed rice set off each other, with a layer of tangerine crab roe spread all over the latter. Pick out crab meat and cream, add chopped chives,...
  
  

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  Braised Shark Fin with Crab Meat

• This delicacy is made with the hairy crab and shark's tail fin. Consisting of tangerine crab spawn, white and tender crab meat and bright shark fin, it reaches the acme of appearance, aroma and...
  
  

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  Flour-Coated Crabs

• Pick out small-sized crabs with relatively soft shells and clean them. Cut them into halves and then remove inedible parts like the stomach, intestines, gill and heart. Blend flour with water and...
  
  

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  Drunken Crabs Preserved in Yellow Rice Wine

• This dish, made by marinating the hairy crab in yellow rice wine, stands out with aroma of the wine and tastiness of the crab setting off each other. There are two seasonings indispensable for...
  
  

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  Crabs Braised in Orange Juice

• Materials: the hairy crab from Yangcheng Lake, oranges. Seasonings: wine, vinegar and salt.
  
  

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  Edible Value of the Hairy Crab

• The reason why crabs from Yangcheng Lake taste so delicious lies in the fact that the crab meat consists of rich protein and over ten kinds of amino acid. Glutamate, glycin, histidine, arginine and...
  
  

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  Six Taboos in Eating the Hairy Crab

• Do not eat dead crabs...Do not eat raw crabs...