Crab Shell Yellow

Crab Shell Yellow

　　　　Made with an oil-based dough and fermented flour as the base, these small, flat, round pastries are coated with a layer of sesame seeds. They are baked against the wall of an oven until golden, resulting in a round shape and a yellow color resembling a crab shell. Fillings include scallion oil, minced meat, white sugar, and red bean paste.

　　The fermented dough is combined with the oil-based pastry to form a flaky crust filled with various stuffings. The color and shape of the pastry closely resemble that of a cooked crab shell. The finished product has a brownish-yellow hue and a crispy, fluffy, and fragrant taste. In the early days, most teahouses and hot water shops (specialized in boiling water) in Shanghai would have a vertical oven and a flat-bottomed griddle stove at the front, where they would make and sell two popular snacks on the spot—Crab Shell Yellow and Pan-Fried Pork Buns. Tasty secret: crispy, fragrant, and full of sesame seeds scattered everywhere.