Sihong Clear-Water Crayfish

Sihong Clear-Water Crayfish

　　Sihong Clear-Water Crayfish is a specialty of Sihong in Suqian, Jiangsu Province. The locals have developed unique cooking techniques for these crayfish. Typically, crayfish around 8 cm in size are selected — they come from the unpolluted shallow grassy areas of Hongze Lake. These crayfish are bright in color, spotlessly clean, free of earthy odors, lively and strong, and able to crawl vigorously. They are then placed in clear water for 24–36 hours to allow them to purge any internal impurities. During cooking, a hot wok is first heated, then cooking oil is added and brought to a boil. The fresh, clean crayfish are added and stir-fried for 3 minutes. Next, eco-water drawn from the deep layers of the natural wetlands of Hongze Lake is poured in, along with scallions, ginger, cooking wine, salt, and locally sourced, wild plant seasonings. The wok is covered, and the mixture is boiled over high heat for 5 minutes, followed by 8 minutes over low heat.

　　The “Clear-Water Crayfish” series of gourmet banquets, entered by the Hongze Lake Fishing Village Food Street, won high praise from food experts at home and abroad for their characteristics of being “clear, tender, smooth, fresh, and fragrant.” They stood out among numerous contestants and won the Gold Award for Achievement Exhibition and the Special Prize for Themed Culinary Banquet at the Second Jiangsu Provincial Catering Industry Achievements Exhibition and Fifth Culinary Skills Competition.

　　Main ingredient: 1500g crayfish

　　Ingredients: scallions, fresh ginger

　　Method: Clean crayfish (approximately 8 qian to 1 liang each) from Hongze Lake, place them in a pot with scallions, ginger, and salt, and cook for 30 minutes before serving.

　　Benefits and Nutritional Value: Crayfish are high in protein, and their tender meat is easy to digest, making them an excellent food for those who are physically weak or recovering from illness. They are also rich in magnesium, zinc, iodine, selenium, and other minerals that help protect the cardiovascular system, reduce blood cholesterol levels, prevent arteriosclerosis, dilate coronary arteries, and aid in the prevention of high blood pressure and myocardial infarction.

　　Source: People’s Government of Sihong County, Jiangsu Province