Just look on the bottom of the crabs, at the apron. From a distance these eggs resemble a sponge, hence the term "sponge" crab. The flavor-packed spheres come from the female crab and turn bright orange after cooking. According to a survey of 20 crab houses in the Baltimore area, female crabs by the dozen were priced at between 51 and 85 cents to the dollar, compared to males. You can quickly identify the sook crabs by the orange color on the tips of the claws. Crab Roe - 1 lb. It takes about two weeks for the eggs to "ripen" and be released into the water to hatch. The male usually has a thin apron, Y-shaped and the female has a triangular apron. Seeking suggestions for substituting crab roe in She crab soup. The crab meat is believed by TCM practitioners to have a "cooling" effect on the body.. Chinese spend hundreds of yuan just to taste a small crab from Yangcheng Lake, which are considered a delicacy. $48.78 Check the items you wish to purchase, then click Share your knowledge of this product. My usual procedure is to steam the crab with beer and call it a day. https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/she-crab-soup-51156820 Would tobikko commonly used with sushi provide a similar taste. The crab is an autumn delicacy in Shanghai cuisine and eastern China. The traditional version of this dish uses only female crab (hence the name “She-Crab”) and uses crab roe (the orange stuff you see when you eat female blue crabs). Also, the tomalley (aka “mustard”) is found in all blue crabs. It is prized for the female crab roe, which ripen in the ninth lunar month and the males in the tenth. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. It is illegal in many states to possess sponge crabs. As far as the crab roe, the availability varies during the months of the year. One of the nicest things about buying live crabs instead of lump crab meat is that you get the whole measure of the animal—not only its succulent flesh, but also its creamy innards and the sweet, briny juices that pool in the curve of the shell. Other sought-after parts of the blue crab include the roe, which makes an excellent garnish and is revered in Chinese cuisine. BLUE CRAB IDENTIFICATION ... #3 Sook Crabs – The number three Sook crabs are the mature female crabs which means they are able to mate and carry eggs. I have had it several times while visiting Charleston, SC but am not familiar with the taste as an individual ingredient. Male blue crabs are called “jimmies,” adolescent female blue crabs “sally,” and the adult female blue crabs “sooks,” by the watermen or boatmen. As far as any other crabs, they do sell female blue crabs, and also female rock crabs. Sherry is a key ingredient here along with the Lobster Base (Better than bouillon). 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