Shrimp is a nutritious food, especially high in calcium, and a common dish in family meals. Wild shrimp has a sweeter, firmer, and more flavorful meat compared to farmed shrimp.
However, not everyone can easily distinguish between farmed and wild shrimp. Luckily, there is a simple trick that a seasoned shrimp seller can teach you to accurately identify the type of shrimp.
How to Differentiate Farmed and Wild Shrimp
When shopping for shrimp, many people don’t pay attention to how they select shrimp and buy from anywhere that sells them. However, wild shrimp is usually more expensive than farmed shrimp. As a result, some dishonest sellers may take advantage of this and sell farmed shrimp as wild shrimp for profit.
To avoid being cheated, you need to know how to identify farmed and wild shrimp. First, observe the color and texture of the shrimp: farmed shrimp usually have a darker shell, softer meat, and lack the natural sweetness when eaten. In contrast, wild shrimp have lighter-colored shells, firmer meat, and a distinctive sweet taste when savored.
To ensure you get fresh and delicious shrimp, choose shrimp with hard shells, bright colors, healthy bodies, and agile swimming movements. Check the shrimp’s legs to ensure they are not broken, and the meat inside is firm and not separated from the shell. Avoid buying shrimp with dull white, cloudy eyes or light pink shells, stiff and straight bodies, uneven sizes, detached heads, slimy liquid, or black legs.
If you’re purchasing pre-cooked shrimp, inspect the tail. Straighten the shrimp and examine it under light to check the space between the shell and meat joints. If the joints are wide, the shrimp may have been overcooked or frozen for too long and are no longer fresh.
Understanding these signs will help you select fresh shrimp, ensuring safety and preserving their natural delicious flavor.
Delicious Shrimp Recipes
Shrimp and Glass Noodle Soup
If you’re looking for a change from your regular shrimp dishes, try this delicious shrimp and glass noodle soup for breakfast or dinner. It’s easy to make and here’s how:
Step 1: Prepare the shrimp by peeling and removing the vein.
Step 2: Sauté chopped shallots, ginger, white onion, and minced garlic in a pan, then add the shrimp and cook until they turn pink. Turn off the heat.
Step 3: In a clean clay pot, arrange the shrimp and mushrooms on top and place the glass noodles at the bottom. Season with salt, pepper, soy sauce, and cooking wine to taste, and cook for 5-7 minutes. Enjoy your delicious soup once the noodles are cooked.
Sour Tamarind Shrimp
This mouthwatering dish combines the sweet natural taste of shrimp with the tangy flavor of tamarind, making it a family favorite. Here’s how to prepare it:
Step 1: Clean and prepare the shrimp. Chop the spring onions, mince the shallots and garlic.
Step 2: Soak the tamarind in warm water for about 15 minutes. Mash and strain the mixture to obtain tamarind water. Mix this with 3 spoons of sugar, a pinch of salt, MSG, fish sauce, and pepper to taste.
Step 3: Fry the shrimp until they turn golden. Be careful not to overcook and dry out the meat.
Step 4: In a separate pan, sauté the garlic and shallots. Add the fried shrimp, pour the tamarind mixture over them, and toss to coat. Once the sauce thickens, turn off the heat and serve.
Shrimp in Fermented Soy Bean Sauce
This traditional dish is a familiar presence in family meals, and its savory taste goes well with rice. The ingredients are easy to find, and the preparation is simple:
Step 1: Clean the shrimp and remove the whiskers, legs, and vein.
Step 2: Steam a bowl of shrimp paste with lemon juice, fish sauce, sugar, and oil, stirring to combine.
Step 3: Fry the shrimp until both sides turn golden. Mix the shrimp with the shrimp paste, minced garlic, seasoning powder, sugar, and pepper, stirring to coat.
Step 4: Place the mixture in a pot, add coconut water, and simmer for about 20 minutes until the sauce thickens. Serve and enjoy!
These shrimp recipes are not only delicious but also easy to prepare, adding variety and excitement to your family meals.
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