Crispy carp dishes are becoming a popular choice for many restaurants and bringing high profits to farmers. Let’s explore this unique delicacy and its benefits.
1 What is Common Carp?
Common Carp
Common carp is a freshwater fish with a typically slender, elongated body and a slightly flattened shape. Its back has a gentle curve, and its head is tapered with a blunt snout. Short barbels hang below its mouth, and its dorsal fin and tail have a darker hue.
Common carp meat is firm and sweet, making it a versatile ingredient for delicious dishes. It’s also packed with essential nutrients such as protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and various vitamins and minerals.
Common carp can be prepared in numerous ways, including caramelized braised carp, carp cooked with ginger, carp in tomato sauce, and more.
2 What is Crispy Carp?
Crispy Carp
In recent years, a new type of carp, known as “crispy carp,” has emerged, featuring a fuller body and firmer meat. According to the Vietnam Agricultural Newspaper, crispy carp is, in fact, common carp that has been fed silk bean seeds as part of a special diet and farming technique.
Farming crispy carp requires more advanced techniques than traditional carp farming. Water in the ponds must be changed periodically, and oxygen levels must be maintained with equipment to ensure a clean environment. The silk bean seeds are soaked for 12 to 24 hours before feeding to the carp.
When cooked, crispy carp delivers a unique texture that is chewy, crispy, and tender, with a rich, sweet, and buttery flavor.
Nutritionally, crispy carp is also superior, boasting higher levels of collagen, calcium, and amino acids than common carp.
Crispy carp can be prepared in a variety of mouthwatering dishes, including grilled crispy carp with chili and salt, stir-fried crispy carp, deep-fried crispy carp, crispy carp hot pot, crispy carp with pickled mango, and crispy carp with fermented rice pudding.
3 Differences Between Common Carp and Crispy Carp
Differences Between Common and Crispy Carp
Crispy carp has a lighter-colored skin and a longer body compared to common carp.
The body of crispy carp is more rounded and fuller than that of common carp.
Crispy carp can weigh twice as much as common carp, sometimes even three times as much.
When cooked, crispy carp meat doesn’t shrink and remains chewy and crispy, even when exposed to high temperatures. It also retains a distinctive soft and buttery texture.
We hope this information helps you understand the differences between common carp and crispy carp. If you have any questions or thoughts, feel free to leave a comment below!