A butterfly flutters over the river

A butterfly flutters over the river

　　A butterfly flutters over the river

　　　A butterfly flutters over the river is a uniquely flavorful dish specially prepared to entertain relatives and distinguished guests by the people of Heshan Lake Country in Yiyang.

　　This dish is made from a special type of fish unique to the Dongting Lake area called caiyu. The preparation method is as follows: first, take about one kilogram of caiyu, chop off its head and tail, gut and scale it, remove the bones and spines, then slice it into thin, butterfly-shaped caiyu slices. Then, clean the fish head and tail and simmer them to extract the original fish broth, adding lard, salt, shredded ginger, chili, MSG, and other seasonings. When the fish broth is boiling vigorously in the hot pot, add the thin caiyu slices in batches. As the broth boils fiercely, the caiyu slices placed on one side of the hot pot will float up on the other side. In the soup, the thin caiyu slices unfold one by one, resembling white butterflies fluttering across the river. Hence, the locals have given this dish the beautiful name “A Butterfly Flutters Over the River.” Nowadays, this dish has moved beyond farm tables and entered luxurious hotels and restaurants, where it is elegantly named “Dongting Butterfly Flutters Over the River” on the menu.

　　Why is this dish so tender and delicious, and especially beloved? It stems from the living characteristics and nutritional benefits of the caiyu fish. Caiyu, scientifically known as Channa argus, lives in lakes, ponds, ditches, and harbors rich in aquatic plants. It is a wild fish species with particularly strong vitality, mainly feeding on live fish and shrimp in the water, and is referred to as the “king of fish.” Caiyu meat is delicate, exceptionally flavorful, and high in protein content. Not only is it highly nutritious, but it also has unique functions such as detoxifying, promoting regeneration, and providing astringent nourishment. For women who have just given birth and patients recovering from surgery, consuming caiyu soup and slices can help promote uterine and wound contraction, remove toxins, regenerate new tissue, and accelerate wound healing and recovery. Since the 1970s, high-quality caiyu from the Dongting Lake area has been transported and sold to Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, and Macau.