Fried Water Dragonfly

Fried Water Dragonfly

　　Water dragonflies are the larvae of dragonflies fished from water. They are about the same size as adult dragonflies but without wings. Once deep-fried, their bodies turn golden yellow. Seeing a plate of water dragonflies lined up can be intimidating if you lack courage. But once you take a bite, they are crispy and fragrant—finishing off a whole plate isn’t hard at all.

Related Information

Fried Water Dragonfly Taste: Crispy and fragrant, they melt in your mouth with no strange texture. They have a finer texture than fried grasshoppers, but be careful of the spines on their tails.

Fried Water Dragonfly Price: Some restaurants charge 30 yuan per plate, others 40 yuan, depending on the restaurant’s location and dining environment.

Recommended Restaurants: Almost every restaurant serves them—it's a common snack.

Production Process

Method: Cleaned and marinated water dragonflies are deep-fried in oil until golden brown. Mastering the heat is especially important—skilled chefs fry them so well that even the compound eyes remain intact.

History and Culture

It is said that this dish was quite popular among caravan traders in the past.

But for many people, this dish is quite cruel. With so many delicious foods available, why eat dragonflies, which are beneficial to humans and help catch mosquitoes? We truly hope people will show some mercy and not just indulge their own appetites without regard for anything else.