Can the Chinese giant salamander, the "ginseng of the water," be eaten? Legality, suitable groups of people, and how to eat it

The Chinese giant salamander, also known as the giant salamander or salamander fish, is a large amphibian commonly found in rivers or streams. It was named for its cry, which sounds like a baby's whimpering. Its numbers are currently limited, so many people want to taste its delicious meat. So can the Chinese giant salamander be eaten? Will eating it break the law? Who is it suitable for? How should it be eaten?

1. Can it be eaten?

The Chinese giant salamander can be eaten. Its meat is tender and delicious, rich but not greasy, and suitable for all ages. In addition, it contains abundant high-quality protein, amino acids and trace elements, so its nutritional value is extremely high. It is known as the “ginseng of the water” and is regarded as a rare tonic in the markets of Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, China and Southeast Asia. In particular, the muscle protein of the Chinese giant salamander is a high-quality protein with a high content of essential amino acids and a good composition ratio, fully capable of supplying the nutrients the human body needs.

2. Is it illegal to eat the Chinese giant salamander?

Because the Chinese giant salamander is few in number, it is very precious, and generally few people eat it. Eating wild Chinese giant salamanders is illegal, while eating second-generation (F2) Chinese giant salamanders is not illegal. The Chinese giant salamander is the most precious and also the largest existing amphibian in the world. It is also a key species for special agricultural development, agricultural industrialization and wild animal gene protection. It is currently a national second-class protected amphibian wild animal, and our country stipulates that only second-generation (F2) Chinese giant salamanders may be eaten and traded. Illegally catching, selling, hunting or eating wild giant salamanders will be subject to legal sanctions.

3. How should it be eaten?

1. Introduction to ways of eating it

(1) Stir-fried Chinese giant salamander balls with snow peas

Ingredients: snow peas, Chinese giant salamander balls, salt, sugar, cooking wine, ginger, scallion, carrot flowers, superior stock, cornstarch.

Method:

① Mix the Chinese giant salamander with cornstarch, sugar and salt, pass it through medium-temperature hot oil, remove and drain the oil after 30 seconds, and blanch the snow peas in water first, then remove.

② Saute the ginger and the white parts of the scallion until fragrant, then add the Chinese giant salamander balls and stir-fry, drizzle in a little superior stock, add the snow peas and carrot flowers and stir-fry evenly, drizzle in cooking wine, then adjust the seasoning, thicken with cornstarch slurry and plate.

(2) Steamed Chinese giant salamander with lotus leaves

Ingredients: sliced Chinese giant salamander, shredded dried tangerine peel, cornstarch, shredded ginger, shredded red dates, chopped scallion, salt.

Method:

① Add cornstarch and salt to the sliced Chinese giant salamander and mix well, then add the shredded dried tangerine peel, shredded ginger and shredded red dates.

② Wipe the lotus leaf clean with plain water, place it in a steamer, trim off the excess parts, and smear a little oil on the lotus leaf

③ Spread the seasoned Chinese giant salamander together with the ingredients in the steamer, cover with the lid, and steam over high heat for 2 minutes before eating.

(3) Stewed Chinese giant salamander soup with Dendrobium officinale

Ingredients: Yicunjin Dendrobium officinale, sliced Chinese giant salamander, old chicken, lean meat, cistanche, ginger.

Method:

① Cut the old chicken and lean meat into pieces, blanch them in hot water, remove and place them in a stewing jar, cut the Dendrobium officinale into small diced pieces and place them in the stewing jar, then add cistanche slices and ginger slices, pour in an appropriate amount of mountain spring water, and stew over water for 3 hours.

② Marinate the sliced Chinese giant salamander with a little cornstarch and salt, then place it in the hot soup, continue stewing for 10 minutes, add salt to season and it is ready to eat.

(4) Chinese giant salamander congee cooked by quick boiling

Ingredients: Chinese giant salamander, rice, shredded red dates, shredded scallion, scallop, cornstarch, salt.

Method:

① Put the rice and scallop in a clay pot, add enough water, bring to a boil over high heat for 10 minutes, then turn to medium heat and simmer until cooked.

② Tear the scallop into shreds to make scallop congee, then add cornstarch, oil and salt to the Chinese giant salamander meat and mix well, and put it into the hot scallop congee and boil for 3 minutes.

③ Add the shredded red dates and salt, and finally sprinkle with shredded scallion for garnish before eating.

2. Who is it suitable for?

(1) Pregnant and postpartum women: Pregnant and postpartum women have great nutritional needs during pregnancy and after childbirth. During pregnancy, the mother's nutrition is crucial to the baby's growth and development; after childbirth is the period when the body's qi and blood are weakest. Nutrition during confinement is very important for the mother, and drinking more soup also helps promote milk production. At this time, a bowl of soup stewed with Chinese giant salamander is perfect for the mother.

(2) People with weak constitutions, low immunity and sub-health conditions: The immune system is the body's defense system against viruses and bacteria. If a person's immune system has problems, it will lead to symptoms such as weakness, malnutrition, fatigue, reduced appetite and sleep disorders.

(3) Patients with tumors and cancer: Because cancer itself is a wasting disease, after multiple surgeries it is inevitable that vital energy will be greatly damaged. In addition, chemotherapy and radiotherapy often cause gastrointestinal reactions such as vomiting, poor appetite and diarrhea, seriously affecting the absorption and utilization of nutrients, making the patient's nutrition lower than the body's requirement, leading to reduced disease resistance, emaciation and weakness, and ultimately causing general functional failure such as emaciation, anemia and mental decline. Therefore, eating the Chinese giant salamander can help regulate the patient's nutrition for rapid recovery!