Xie Fen Dou Fu (Crab Roe Tofu)
The inside of the vessel is golden! A luxurious dish with the taste of Shanghai crab miso intertwined with tofu
Description
A famous dish beloved in high-end Shanghai restaurants. Shanghai Hairy Crabs are boiled, and the crab meat and roe are painstakingly picked out by hand (Xie Fen). This is braised with silky soft tofu in a rich broth. The violent umami of the crab elevates the bland tofu into the ultimate feast.
Restaurants serving Xie Fen Dou Fu (Crab Roe Tofu)
Researching
We are researching restaurants that serve this dish.
On this site you can check dictionary details and, later, places to buy or eat related items.
The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Crab roe and meat(Xie Fen)
- Silken tofu
- Scallion
- Ginger
- Shaoxing wine
- Chinese broth
- Potato starch
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe]
- (Extracting Xie Fen - Ultimate Labor) Boil or steam numerous Shanghai crabs. Artisans painstakingly pick out the roe (Xie Huang) and meat (Xie Rou) using special tools. This premium paste is called 'Xie Fen'. (*Home cooks often use jarred Xie Fen).
- (Tofu) Dice ultra-silken tofu (Nan Dou Fu) and blanch in salted water to prevent breaking.
- Heat generous oil (lard is best) in a wok, fry minced scallion and ginger.
- Dump in the entire batch of 'Xie Fen'. Stir-fry on low until the golden crab oil bleeds out and emits a roasted aroma (splash Shaoxing wine to kill funk).
- Pour in premium Chinese broth (Gao Tang), season with salt and white pepper.
- Gently slide in the tofu. Simmer on low for a few minutes until the tofu absorbs the crab umami.
- Thicken heavily with starch slurry until the golden sauce clings stickily to the tofu.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Intense amino acid umami of crab roe、Ginger aroma
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
(Substitute with roe/meat from Japanese Blue Crab or Snow Crab)
Pairing
White Rice (Ultimate rice thief) / Shaoxing Wine
Trivia
[Trivia] Originated when chefs painstakingly extracted the insides for wealthy gourmands who found peeling shells tedious. Because of its glowing golden appearance, it symbolizes 'A house overflowing with gold and jade' (Jin Yu Man Tang), making it massively popular at banquets and weddings.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] Scoop the golden sauce and tofu together with a spoon. The tofu melts softly in your mouth, followed immediately by the violently rich depth of the crab roe. Pouring this over piping hot white rice to make a 'Crab Roe Tofu Bowl' is the supreme luxury of Shanghai locals.
Allergen
Crab, Soybeans, Wheat (Depends on sauce)