April and May are the time to eat seafood. There are all kinds of seafood, which are the most plump and delicious. My favorite thing to eat is shrimp crawler. In Northeastern dialect, it’s called “shrimp crawler”, which is a very down-to-earth name.

The shrimp crawlers in April are the fattest and most tender. They lay eggs in May every year, so the shrimps at this time are very plump, tender and delicious. Prices are still a bit expensive in April. The larger female shrimp crawlers are the most expensive, costing 50-60 yuan per pound. This is the freshness of the food. In May, the price will drop somewhat. It can be said that "there is no such shop in this village", and the next shrimp season will have to wait until after September.

Here is a way to tell the difference between male and female. Female shrimp crawlers will have three white lines on their necks, but male shrimps will not, so it is easy to tell them apart. In the picture below, the one on the left is the female and the one on the right is the male. The female is relatively smaller, but has a yellow color and is very delicious. The male is bigger, not yellow but has more meat. What you like to eat is entirely up to you.

Let’s talk about how to eat shrimp clams, boiling, steaming, and frying are all good. Here are the two most authentic ways to make it, one is to eat it raw and the other is to steam it.

1. Pickled raw shrimps

1. Be sure to buy fresh and live shrimps, and rinse them with clean water after buying them.

2. Boil a pot of water, add a few star anise, peppercorns, green onions, ginger slices, garlic and enough salt. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook for a while to fully absorb the flavor. Cool the boiled water naturally until it is completely cool.

3. Place the shrimp crawlers in a basin, pour the boiled seasoning water into it, and be sure to cover the shrimp crawlers, because the shrimp crawlers are alive and easy to move, so use a plate on top Or press it with something else, and then close the lid.

5. Marinate for about 24 hours before you can enjoy it. It tastes delicious and authentic, making it a great dish to accompany meals or drinks.

2. Steamed shrimps

1. Add an appropriate amount of water to the steamer, place the washed shrimps on the steamer, and sprinkle a layer of green onions, ginger and garlic on top. and appropriate amount of salt. Because they are all alive, they cannot be arranged neatly.

2. Cover the pot and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Start timing when steam comes out and steam for about 10 minutes. After steaming, turn off the heat and do not open the lid immediately. After 5 minutes, take it out of the pot and put it on a plate.

4. The steamed shrimp meat is tender and fragrant. Steaming can maintain the original flavor better than boiling, and the nutrition is not lost and the taste is more delicious.

People who live by the sea generally don’t object to eating them raw! It tastes more delicious when eaten raw! If you really can't bear to eat it raw, the best way is to steam it. Steaming will maintain the original flavor and the nutrients will not be lost