Crab Roe and Shark’s Fin

Crab Roe and Shark’s Fin

　　Crab Roe and Shark’s Fin is one of the classic dishes in Hubei cuisine. It primarily uses dried tofu as the main ingredient, and the cooking method mainly involves braising, resulting in a savory and umami-rich flavor. The dish is characterized by crispy and tender shark’s fin, rich, oily, and aromatic crab roe and meat, along with a thick, flavorful soup. As a traditional Nanjing delicacy, it is a seasonal autumn treat and an essential item at high-end banquets.

　　Basic Information

　　Cuisine: Shandong Cuisine

　　Category: Vegetarian Recipe, Jinling Cuisine

　　Cooking Method: Braising

　　Flavor: Savory and Umami – Crab Roe and Shark’s Fin

　　Serving: Lunch or Dinner

　　Texture: This dish uses vegetarian ingredients to mimic meaty textures, can be made all year round, features a yellowish-red color, and has a savory and umami taste, making it a premium choice.

　　Main Ingredients: 300g dried tofu, 500g carrots, 350g duck eggs

　　Side Ingredients: 2g fermented broad bean starch, 10g winter bamboo shoots, 10g dried shiitake mushrooms

　　Seasonings: 5g white sugar, 2g pepper, 13g ginger, 10g scallions, 70g rapeseed oil, 3g salt, 3g MSG, 3g edible alkali

　　Cooking Process

　　1. Trim the edges of the shark’s fin, place it in boiling water, and simmer over low heat while keeping it lightly bubbling.

　　2. Once the sandy surface cracks, remove from heat to let the sand settle, then scoop it into a basin to rub off the surface sand and dark gray membrane. Rinse twice with clean water.

　　3. Simmer again in boiling water for 4–5 hours, then remove from heat. Remove bones and trim any spoiled edges, soak in clean water, changing the water frequently until the shark’s fin is fully rehydrated and the fishy smell is removed.

　　4. Then soak in boiling water for half a day until the shark’s fin softens and contracts, releasing any remaining fishiness, making it ready for use.

　　5. Clean live crabs, tie their legs tightly with thin twine, steam them in a steamer over high heat until cooked, then remove. Use a bamboo skewer to extract the crab roe and meat.

　　6. In a bowl, pour 150ml of chicken broth, place the crab shells and bodies inside, and wash out the crab roe.

　　7. Then place the extracted crab meat into the soup bowl for later use.

　　8. Boil salted duck eggs until cooked, then take the yolks and stir them in a bowl.

　　9. Place the processed shark’s fin in a bowl, add chicken broth, 2g of refined salt, scallion whites, and ginger slices. Steam over high heat until softened and flavorful, then remove.

　　10. Wash and blanch the cabbage heart, season and set aside.

　　11. Heat a wok over high heat, add hot lard, then put in the crab roe, crab meat, and cooked salted duck egg yolk. Pour in the steaming juice, add soy sauce, refined salt, and MSG. Gently shake the wok, drizzle in the thickening sauce, stir with a spoon while shaking the wok, then drizzle in hot lard. Plate the dish, sprinkle with pepper, and garnish the edges with blanched cabbage hearts for color contrast.

　　Cooking Tips

　　1. Ensure all sand is removed from the fins, and keep the fin bodies intact.

　　2. Shark’s fin must be blanched in boiling water over high heat.

　　3. The crab roe and shark’s fin should have vibrant colors, with the fins being crispy yet tender, and the overall flavor highlighting deliciousness. Crab Roe and Shark’s Fin is a traditional Nanjing delicacy, a seasonal autumn treat, and an essential item at high-end banquets.

　　Nutritional Analysis

　　Dried Tofu: Tofu strips are rich in protein, and the protein in tofu is a complete protein. It contains all eight essential amino acids required by the human body, and their proportions are close to what the body needs, making it highly nutritious. The lecithin in tofu strips can remove cholesterol attached to blood vessel walls, prevent arteriosclerosis, protect against cardiovascular diseases, and safeguard heart health. It also contains various minerals that help supplement calcium, prevent osteoporosis caused by calcium deficiency, promote bone development, and are especially beneficial for the skeletal growth of children and the elderly.

　　Carrot: Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which helps nourish the liver and improve eyesight, and can treat night blindness. They contain plant fiber with strong water absorption, which easily expands in the intestines, acting as a “bulking agent” that enhances intestinal peristalsis, thus improving digestion, preventing constipation, and offering anti-cancer benefits. Vitamin A is essential for normal bone growth and development, aids in cell proliferation and growth, and is a key factor in bodily development, playing an important role in promoting the growth of infants and young children. Beta-carotene converts to vitamin A, helping to enhance immune function and playing a significant role in preventing epithelial cell cancer. The lignin in carrots can also boost the body’s immune mechanisms and indirectly eliminate cancer cells. Additionally, carrots contain hypoglycemic substances, making them a good food choice for diabetics. Certain compounds in carrots, such as quercetin and kaempferol, can increase coronary blood flow, lower blood lipids, promote adrenaline synthesis, and have blood pressure-lowering and heart-strengthening effects, making them an excellent dietary option for patients with hypertension and coronary heart disease.

　　Duck Egg: The protein content in duck eggs is comparable to that of chicken eggs, but the total mineral content far exceeds that of chicken eggs, especially in iron and calcium, which are abundant and can help prevent anemia and promote bone development.

　　Broad Bean: Broad beans contain important components for regulating brain and nerve tissues, such as calcium, zinc, manganese, and phospholipids, and are rich in choline, which has memory-enhancing and brain-boosting effects. The calcium in broad beans aids in the absorption and calcification of calcium by bones, promoting the growth and development of human bones. Broad beans are high in protein and cholesterol-free, which can enhance the nutritional value of food and help prevent cardiovascular diseases. The vitamin C in broad beans can delay arteriosclerosis, while the dietary fiber in the bean skin helps lower cholesterol and promote intestinal peristalsis. Modern research also considers broad beans to be one of the anti-cancer foods, beneficial in preventing colon cancer.

　　Winter Bamboo Shoots: Winter bamboo shoots are a delicious food with high nutritional value and medicinal properties. They are tender, flavorful, crisp, and refreshing, containing protein, various amino acids, vitamins, as well as trace elements like calcium, phosphorus, and iron, along with rich dietary fiber. They promote intestinal peristalsis, aiding digestion and helping prevent constipation and colon cancer. As a high-protein, low-starch food, winter bamboo shoots offer certain dietary therapeutic benefits for those with obesity, coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and arteriosclerosis. The polysaccharides they contain also have certain anti-cancer effects. However, winter bamboo shoots are relatively high in calcium oxalate, so people with urinary tract stones or nephritis should not consume them excessively.

　　Shiitake Mushroom (Dried): Dried shiitake mushrooms are characterized by their high protein, low fat, polysaccharide, multiple amino acids, and various vitamins. They contain ergosterol, which is generally lacking in vegetables and can be converted into vitamin D to promote calcium absorption in the body and enhance the body’s resistance to diseases. Regular consumption of shiitake mushrooms can help prevent cancer. Cancer patients who eat more shiitake mushrooms can inhibit the growth of tumor cells. Shiitake mushroom consumption also has certain weight-loss effects for individuals with thicker abdominal fat. The adenine, choline, tyrosine, oxidase, and certain nucleic acid substances in shiitake mushrooms can help lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and blood lipids, and prevent arteriosclerosis and cirrhosis. Shiitake polysaccharides can enhance the activity of helper T cells, thereby strengthening humoral immunity. Extensive practice has shown that shiitake mushrooms have a broad range of anti-cancer applications and are used in clinical treatments. They also contain various vitamins and minerals, which play a significant role in promoting metabolism and enhancing the body’s adaptability.

　　Suitable For

　　Suitable For Dried Tofu

　　Generally suitable for everyone

　　1. Suitable for those who are physically weak, malnourished, suffering from both qi and blood deficiency, the elderly who are thin and weak; suitable for those with high blood lipids, high cholesterol, obesity, and arteriosclerosis; suitable for diabetics; suitable for women with insufficient breast milk after childbirth; suitable for adolescents and children; suitable for those with phlegm-heat cough and asthma (including acute bronchitis with wheezing); suitable for cancer patients;

　　2. The elderly and those with iron-deficiency anemia should eat less.

　　Suitable For Carrots

　　Generally suitable for everyone.

　　1. Especially suitable for cancer patients, those with hypertension, night blindness, dry eye syndrome, malnutrition, poor appetite, and rough skin.

　　Suitable For Duck Eggs

　　Suitable for general population

　　1. Suitable for those with lung heat cough, sore throat, and diarrhea;

　　2. Not suitable for those with spleen yang deficiency, cold-damp diarrhea, or those feeling bloated and stuffy after meals; temporarily not suitable during illness; not suitable for nephritis patients; not suitable for cancer patients; also not suitable for those with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis, or fatty liver.

　　Suitable For Winter Bamboo Shoots

　　Suitable for general population

　　1. Offers certain dietary therapeutic benefits for those with obesity, coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and arteriosclerosis;

　　2. But not suitable for excessive consumption by children, those with urinary tract stones, or nephritis patients.

　　Suitable For Shiitake Mushroom (Dried)

　　Suitable for general population.

　　1. Suitable for those with anemia, low immunity, high blood lipids, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, or nephritis;

　　2. Not suitable for those with cold-damp spleen and stomach, qi stagnation, or skin itching conditions.

　　Dietary Therapy Effects

　　Dried Tofu Dietary Therapy Effects: Suitable for those who are physically weak, malnourished, suffering from both qi and blood deficiency, the elderly who are thin and weak, diabetics, those with high blood lipids, high cholesterol, obesity, arteriosclerosis, women with insufficient breast milk after childbirth, those with phlegm-heat cough and asthma, and cancer patients.

　　Carrot Dietary Therapy Effects: Carrots taste sweet and have a neutral nature; they enter the lung and spleen meridians; they have the effects of strengthening the spleen and aiding digestion, moistening the intestines and promoting bowel movements, killing parasites, regulating qi and relieving stagnation, and improving eyesight; they are mainly used to treat poor appetite, abdominal distension, diarrhea, excessive cough with phlegm, and blurred vision.

　　Duck egg therapeutic effects: Duck eggs are sweet and salty in flavor and cool in nature; they enter the lung and spleen meridians. They have the benefits of greatly replenishing weakness, nourishing yin and blood, moistening the lungs, and beautifying the skin. They are used for treating diaphragm heat, cough, sore throat, toothache, and diarrhea.

　　Winter bamboo shoot therapeutic effects: Bamboo shoots are sweet in flavor and slightly cold in nature, and belong to the stomach and lung meridians. They have the effects of nourishing yin and cooling blood, harmonizing the middle and moistening the intestines, clearing heat and resolving phlegm, quenching thirst and relieving irritability, clearing heat and benefiting qi, soothing the diaphragm and refreshing the stomach, promoting urination and bowel movements, detoxifying and promoting rash eruption, nourishing the liver and improving vision, and aiding digestion. They can also stimulate appetite and strengthen the spleen, relax the intestines and soothe the diaphragm, facilitate bowel movements, relieve diaphragm blockage and resolve phlegm, eliminate greasiness, and counteract alcohol toxicity. They are mainly used to treat poor appetite, loss of taste, chest tightness due to epigastric fullness, constipation, excessive phlegm, obesity, and symptoms such as nausea from drunkenness.

　　Dried shiitake mushroom therapeutic effects: The mushroom is neutral in nature and sweet in flavor, entering the liver and stomach meridians. It has the benefits of nourishing the liver and kidneys, strengthening the spleen and stomach, enriching qi and blood, improving intelligence and calming the spirit, and beautifying the skin. It helps resolve phlegm and regulate qi, benefit the stomach and harmonize the middle, promote rash eruption and detoxify. It is used to treat poor appetite, physical weakness, urinary incontinence, constipation, obesity, and conditions such as tumors and sores.

　　Nutritional composition

　　Energy 2299.13 kcal, Protein 126.74 g, Fat 164.73 g, Carbohydrates 89.03 g, Folate 479.4 µg, Dietary fiber 12.29 g, Cholesterol 1977.5 mg, Vitamin A 4387.94 µg, Beta-carotene 20857.3 µg, Thiamine 0.95 mg, Riboflavin 1.67 mg, Niacin 6.6 mg, Vitamin C 68.22 mg, Vitamin E 132.36 mg, Calcium 1318.93 mg, Phosphorus 1901.09 mg, Potassium 1809.02 mg, Sodium 2223.41 mg, Iodine 17.66 µg, Magnesium 382.96 mg, Iron 38.64 mg, Zinc 15.91 mg, Selenium 64.32 µg, Copper 2.44 mg, Manganese 8.33 mg