Wild Mantis Shrimp

Wild Mantis Shrimp

　　The mantis shrimp, scientifically known as "Squilla," is called Mantis Shrimp in English. It belongs to the phylum Arthropoda, subphylum Crustacea, class Malacostraca, superorder Hoplocarida, and order Stomatopoda (this superorder contains only one order). Apart from the ancient family Sculdidae, which consists entirely of fossil species, living species are divided into four superfamilies: Bathysquilloidea, Gonodactyloidea, Squilloidea, and Lysiosquilloidea. All are marine dwellers. The Hoplocarida originated in the Jurassic period of the Mesozoic era, and there are now more than 500 species. The vast majority live in tropical and subtropical regions, with a few found in temperate zones. Coastal areas throughout China have them, with the most common being the species Oratosquilla oratoria from the family Squillidae and genus Oratosquilla, distributed across various sea areas in China. The South China Sea has the highest diversity, with over 80 species discovered. Different regions in China have different local names for the mantis shrimp, such as: shrimp crawler, crawfish, tiger shrimp, shrimp granny, shrimp man, pee shrimp, pee-shooting shrimp, dog shrimp, spring shrimp, rich shrimp, lute shrimp, flower-not-come bug, mantis shrimp, and more.

　　Rich in Nutrition

　　Mantis shrimp is a nutrient-rich seafood delicacy with tender and juicy meat. Its flesh has a high water content, is sweet, smooth, delicate, and soft, with a uniquely enticing flavor. Spring is their spawning season, making it the best time to eat them. Plump mantis shrimp are rich in creamy fat in their heads, with very tender and delicious meat, though they are more shell than flesh. Their protein content is as high as 20%, with 0.7% fat, along with essential nutrients like vitamins, inosinic acid, and amino propionic acid (note: the editor is advised to verify information—while alanine is one of the 20 natural amino acids and can be a nutritional component, amino propionic acid has a different structure and thus different biochemical functions; the author should consider whether it qualifies as a nutrient). Mantis shrimp are warm in nature and sweet in taste. They are believed to have benefits such as nourishing kidney yang and promoting lactation and detoxification.

　　Nutritional Analysis

　　Shrimp are highly nutritious, with tender and easily digestible meat, making them an excellent food for those who are physically weak or recovering from illness. They are also rich in magnesium, which plays a crucial role in regulating heart activity, protecting the cardiovascular system, reducing cholesterol levels in the blood, preventing arteriosclerosis, and dilating coronary arteries, thus helping prevent hypertension and myocardial infarction.

　　Shrimp also have strong lactogenic properties and are rich in phosphorus and calcium, making them especially beneficial for children and pregnant women.

　　Scientists at Osaka University in Japan have found that astaxanthin in shrimp can help eliminate "jet lag" caused by time zone differences.

　　Delicious Flavor

　　The meat of Oratosquilla oratoria is delicious. Mature individuals have their entire abdomens filled with nutrient-rich reproductive glands. They are cave-dwelling and can both avoid heat and cold, while also reducing losses from disasters such as typhoons. Additionally, they have strong disease resistance, making them an outstanding species in the selection of new aquaculture varieties. Tests show that the dry weight of Oratosquilla oratoria's body contains 72.12% protein, 78.8% fat, 7.91% ash, 0.38% calcium, and 2.21% phosphorus. Its amino acid composition is comprehensive and balanced, making it easy for the human body to digest and absorb, especially due to the higher levels of essential amino acids like lysine. It is also rich in glutamic acid and glycine, resulting in a delicious taste and texture. However, due to low natural resources and overfishing, the population of Oratosquilla oratoria has severely declined. In recent years, diseases in shrimp and scallop farming have caused the industry to decline, and the supply from wild catches cannot meet market demand, leading to rising prices. Therefore, research on artificial breeding, reproduction, and cultivation techniques for Oratosquilla oratoria will yield significant economic, social, and ecological benefits.

　　Edible Methods

　　Peeling mantis shrimp can be quite troublesome. A simple way to eat them is by using chopsticks.

　　First, remove the head and tail of the shrimp, then insert a chopstick from the tail to cleanly extract the meat.

　　4 Suitable Groups

　　Generally suitable for everyone.

　　Suitable for all ages; the elderly, pregnant women, and people with cardiovascular diseases are particularly suited to eating them. They are good for those with kidney deficiency and impotence, male infertility, and weakness in the lower back and legs. Also suitable for older adults suffering from leg cramps due to calcium deficiency.

　　People with chronic illnesses or those currently experiencing excessive internal heat should not eat shrimp. Elderly individuals with allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, or recurrent allergic dermatitis should avoid shrimp. Shrimp are a trigger food for gout, and those with skin conditions like scabies should not eat them.

　　5 Food Incompatibilities (Editor’s Note)

　　Cooking Guidelines

　　Avoid eating shrimp that are red in color, soft in texture, or have fallen heads—they are likely spoiled. Never eat spoiled shrimp. Remove the dark vein on the shrimp’s back before eating.

　　Therapeutic Effects

　　Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that sea shrimp are moist in nature and sweet-salty in taste, entering the kidney and spleen meridians. Shrimp meat is believed to have benefits such as nourishing kidney yang, promoting lactation, detoxifying, enriching blood, consolidating essence, invigorating qi, nourishing yang, promoting circulation, relieving pain, stimulating appetite, and resolving phlegm.

　　Suitable for patients with conditions such as kidney deficiency and impotence, spermatorrhea and premature ejaculation, blocked lactation, muscle and bone pain, limb spasms, general itching, skin ulcers, physical weakness, and neurasthenia.

　　It is not recommended to eat fruit after consuming shrimp, as they are incompatible.

　　6 Delicious Dishes (Editor’s Note)

　　Spicy Salted Mantis Shrimp

　　Ingredients: 1000g mantis shrimp (also called "spicy material shrimp")

　　Ingredients: 1000g of mantis shrimp (also known as razor shrimp),

　　Spicy Salted Mantis Shrimp

　　3 red chili peppers, 1 head of garlic, soy sauce.

　　Method:

　　Finely chop the red chili peppers and garlic.

　　Heat oil in a pan, add the shrimp and deep-fry until golden brown, then remove.

　　Leave some oil in the pan, heat it up, then add the chopped chili and garlic and stir-fry until fragrant.

　　Add the fried shrimp, stir well, pour in an appropriate amount of soy sauce, mix evenly, then plate.

　　Boiled Mantis Shrimp in Salted Water

　　Ingredients: 2 lbs mantis shrimp, an appropriate amount of green and red chili peppers

　　Seasonings: salt, ginger juice, rose essence

　　Method: First, rinse the mantis shrimp several times with clean water,

　　Boiled Mantis Shrimp in Salted Water

　　then add an appropriate amount of clean water to the pot, along with some salt, ginger juice, and a few drops of rose essence. After adjusting the flavor, add the rinsed mantis shrimp and simmer over medium heat. After about 3 minutes, the shrimp will turn from green to pink, indicating that the meat is just cooked. Remove the shrimp and plate them, then sprinkle with some chopped green and red chili peppers. A light, refreshing, and authentic-tasting boiled mantis shrimp in salted water is ready.

　　Features: The finished boiled mantis shrimp looks tender and translucent, with plump shrimp meat faintly visible through the shell—absolutely delicious.

　　Spicy Mantis Shrimp

　　Ingredients: 2 lbs mantis shrimp; Seasonings: special spicy oil,

　　Spicy Mantis Shrimp

　　dried red chili peppers (bell peppers), Sichuan peppercorns, doubanjiang (chili bean paste), ginger, scallions

　　Method: Rinse the mantis shrimp with clean water and drain. Chop the scallions and chili peppers into sections, and slice the ginger. Heat an appropriate amount of special spicy oil in a wok, add the chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, doubanjiang, scallions, and ginger, and stir-fry. Then add the mantis shrimp and stir-fry together. Once the shrimp change color, add a little water and simmer over low heat for a short while before serving.

　　Features: The spicy mantis shrimp is bright red and shiny, with a numbing and spicy rich flavor—you can smell the tempting aroma from afar.

　　Juicy Beef Meatballs

　　Ingredients

　　Beef: Choose lean parts, prepare at least 2 lbs depending on how many meatballs you want to make.

　　Mantis shrimp: locally known as “shrimp uncles,” prepare half a pound.

　　Seasonings: sugar, salt, MSG, broth, cooking wine, pepper

　　Method

　　Pound the beef

　　and mantis shrimp

　　into a uniform meat paste. Then peel the shrimp, remove the intestines, and put them in a blender to puree. Next, place them in a pot, add salt, MSG, broth, pepper, cooking wine, and sugar for flavoring. Cook the shrimp mixture until half-done, then pour it out onto an iron tray to cool, and refrigerate until solid. Once the beef is ready, scoop out a portion the size of a lychee. Cut the chilled shrimp paste into small cubes, no larger than 1.5 cm × 1.5 cm. Carefully stuff the cubes into the beef balls. Then boil a pot of bone broth, add the beef balls and cook thoroughly. After removing from heat, you can add rice noodles or noodles—or skip them and enjoy just the soup and meatballs.

　　The imperial-style Juicy Beef Meatballs can also be cooked with ingredients like shrimp, cashews, etc., for a sweet and savory taste; or served with quail eggs and lotus root balls, lightly fried for a crispy outside and tender inside; or combined with some greens and tomatoes for a light, savory stew.

　　Steamed Mantis Shrimp

　　Ingredients: mantis shrimp, scallions, ginger.

　　Instructions:

　　First, wash the mantis shrimp and cut them in half lengthwise with scissors to help the flavor penetrate.

　　Slice the ginger and chop the scallions.

　　Arrange the mantis shrimp on a plate, add cooking wine, white parts of the scallions, and sliced ginger. Steam until cooked.

　　Then mix oyster sauce, sugar, vinegar, minced ginger, chicken essence, and drizzle with sesame oil to make a dipping sauce.