What is Mantis Shrimp? How to Cook and Preserve

Mantis shrimp (bề bề) is a familiar type of seafood for coastal residents and is increasingly appearing in family meals and restaurants. However, not everyone understands what a mantis shrimp is, whether it tastes good, how to prepare it, and how to store it properly. In the following article from Ola Squid, let’s learn the details about this appealing seafood!

1. What is a mantis shrimp?

Mantis shrimp is a familiar type of seafood, also known by many other names such as stomatopods, or specifically Mantis shrimp. This species has a rather unique appearance, possessing characteristics of both shrimp and praying mantis, with a pair of strong claws used to attack prey.

Mantis shrimp mainly live in temperate and tropical coastal waters, reaching an average length of about 25-30 cm, with colors that vary depending on their habitat. Their diet consists of small fish, mollusks, and smaller crustaceans. Thanks to their firm, sweet, and nutritious meat, mantis shrimp are commonly used in the cuisine of many countries such as Vietnam, Japan, and China.

2. How to process mantis shrimp

Mantis shrimp (also known as tôm tít) is a popular type of seafood in Vietnam’s coastal areas, known for its white meat, natural sweet chewiness, and rich flavor. From mantis shrimp, one can create many delicious dishes, suitable for everything from family meals to seafood parties. Below are the most popular and favorite ways to prepare mantis shrimp.

2.1. Salt-roasted mantis shrimp

Ingredients

• 500g mantis shrimp
• 50g salt-roast powder
• Approximately 200ml cooking oil

How to prepare the salt-roasted mantis shrimp dish is as follows:

• Step 1: When you buy mantis shrimp, wash them clean under running water to remove dirt and sand, then let them drain completely before processing.
• Step 2: Place the mantis shrimp in a steamer, cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes until the shells turn red, then turn off the heat and remove them to cool. You can replace this with boiling; if boiled with coconut water, the meat will be firmer and sweeter.
• Step 3: Next, heat the cooking oil and fry the mantis shrimp over medium heat until the outer shell is crispy, then remove and drain the oil. Note that the mantis shrimp must be very dry to avoid oil splattering when frying.
• Step 4: Finally, put the fried mantis shrimp into a large pot or pan, sprinkle the salt-roast powder evenly over them, cover, and shake gently until the salt coats the mantis shrimp. The dish tastes better when served hot and dipped in chili sauce or salt, pepper, and lime.

2.2. Tamarind sauce mantis shrimp

Ingredients

• 1kg fresh mantis shrimp
• 50g garlic, 20g shallots
• 500ml cooking oil, 150g ripe tamarind
• 2 chili peppers
• 2 tablespoons seasoning powder, 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon MSG, 3 tablespoons sugar

How to make mantis shrimp with tamarind sauce

• Step 1: First, remove the head and the edges on both sides of the mantis shrimp, soak and wash briefly in diluted saltwater to eliminate any fishy smell, then rinse with clean water and let drain. Mash the ripe tamarind with warm water and filter to get the smooth extract. Wash the chilies, remove seeds and mince them; peel and mince the garlic and shallots.
• Step 2: Next, heat cooking oil, fry the mantis shrimp quickly over high heat until the meat is firm and lightly golden, then remove and drain the oil. Do not fry for too long to maintain the sweetness and prevent the meat from falling apart.
• Step 3: After that, sauté the minced shallots and garlic with a little oil, add the tamarind extract and bring to a boil. Season with fish sauce, sugar, seasoning powder, MSG, and a portion of minced chili, stirring well to create a harmonious sweet and sour sauce.
• Step 4: Add the fried mantis shrimp into the sauce pan, stir quickly to coat evenly. Lower the heat, cook until the sauce thickens, adjust seasonings, sprinkle the remaining chili, and turn off the heat. The tamarind sauce mantis shrimp has an eye-catching color, with sweet and firm meat blended with a rich, slightly spicy sweet-and-sour sauce that stimulates the palate.

>>> Similar delicious dish: How to make sweet and sour tamarind squid, irresistibly delicious

2.3. Mantis shrimp cakes

Ingredients

• 100g peeled mantis shrimp (keep them whole)
• 100g peeled shrimp
• 200g raw sausage paste (giò sống), 200g pork fat
• Onions, garlic, and common spices (seasoning powder, pepper)

How to make mantis shrimp cakes:

• Step 1: Select fresh mantis shrimp, peel, and wash them. Divide the mantis shrimp into two parts: one part kept whole, the other minced. Wash the pork fat, dice it, and mince the peeled shrimp. In a large bowl, combine the minced mantis shrimp, peeled shrimp, raw sausage paste, pork fat, and minced onions/garlic; season with seasoning powder and pepper, then mix well until the mixture is smooth and pliable.
• Step 2: Divide the mixture into small, bite-sized portions, and place a whole mantis shrimp on top of each cake for garnish. Arrange the cakes in a steamer and steam for about 10 minutes until just cooked.
• Step 3: Next, heat cooking oil in a deep pan, fry the cakes over medium heat until the outer layer is golden and crispy, then remove and drain the oil. The mantis shrimp cakes have a lightly crispy outer layer, while the inside is soft, sweet, and rich with the flavor of pork fat and sausage paste.

2.5. Steamed mantis shrimp

Ingredients

• 1kg fresh mantis shrimp
• 3 stalks of lemongrass
• 3 shallots
• A few lime leaves

Instructions for making steamed mantis shrimp are as follows:

• Step 1: Soak the mantis shrimp briefly in diluted saltwater for a few minutes to clean, then rinse with water and let drain. Clean the lemongrass, crush, and cut into sections; peel the shallots and slice them thinly.
• Step 2: Next, arrange a layer of lemongrass and shallots at the bottom of the steamer, then add a layer of mantis shrimp. Alternate until all ingredients are used. Finally, cover with crushed lemongrass and lime leaves to enhance the aroma.
• Step 3: Place the steamer in a pot of boiling water, cover tightly, and steam over medium heat for about 20-25 minutes until the mantis shrimp are evenly cooked, then turn off the heat. The dish is light, delicious, and best served hot, dipped in salt, pepper, and lime.
  

2.6. Mantis shrimp noodle soup (Bún bề bề)

Ingredients

• 500g mantis shrimp
• 4 tomatoes, 4 blocks of soft tofu
• 1kg fresh rice vermicelli
• Ginger, culantro (sawtooth herb), shallots, green onions
• Side vegetables: lettuce, herbs, water spinach
• Spices: salt, fish sauce, sugar, seasoning powder, cooking oil

How to make mantis shrimp noodle soup as follows:

• Step 1: Wash the mantis shrimp, boil with crushed shallots and a few slices of ginger for about 5 minutes to remove the fishy smell. Remove, let cool, then peel, keeping the heads and shells to make the broth.
• Step 2: Next, cut the tofu into bite-sized pieces and fry until crispy. Wash the tomatoes, cut into wedges, and mince the shallots. Wash the side vegetables and let drain. Finely chop the green onions and culantro.
• Step 3: Blend the mantis shrimp heads and shells with water, then strain to get the sweet liquid. Sauté the shallots in oil, add tomatoes and sauté until soft, then pour in the broth. Season to taste, simmer for about 15 minutes for a rich flavor, then turn off the heat.
• Step 4: Put the rice vermicelli in a bowl, arrange the mantis shrimp, fried tofu, and vegetables on top, sprinkle with green onions and culantro, and ladle the hot broth over it. The delicious bowl of mantis shrimp noodle soup with its naturally sweet broth, firm mantis shrimp meat, and fresh vegetables is perfect for a light meal.

Reference: How to cook Phu Yen style squid noodle soup with clear broth and crispy squid

2.7. Crispy fried mantis shrimp

Ingredients

• 300g mantis shrimp
• ½ package of crispy seafood frying batter (150g type)
• Ginger, chili sauce for serving

How to make crispy fried mantis shrimp as follows:

• Step 1: Wash the mantis shrimp under running water. Place in a pot with a little crushed ginger, cover, and boil until cooked, then remove. Use scissors to cut along both sides of the body, peel off the hard shell while keeping the head, tail, and soft belly shell intact.
• Step 2: Next, mix the crispy frying batter with water in a moderate ratio until the mixture is smooth. Dip each mantis shrimp into the batter so it is evenly coated. Then heat cooking oil, deep-fry the mantis shrimp over high heat until golden and crispy on both sides, then remove and drain the oil.
• Step 3: The final product is crispy fried mantis shrimp with a crunchy outer layer and sweet, firm meat inside. The dish is best when served hot, dipped in mildly spicy chili sauce; the crispy head and tail can also be eaten, increasing the appeal.

2.8. Stir-fried mantis shrimp with glass noodles

Ingredients

• 500g mantis shrimp
• 2 shallots, 140g dried glass noodles
• 5 garlic cloves, 1 large carrot
• 500g bok choy or choy sum
• 1 onion, 2 bell peppers (red and green)
• Common spices: fish sauce, soy sauce, seasoning powder, MSG, pepper, sugar

How to cook mantis shrimp stir-fried with glass noodles simply as follows:

• Step 1: Wash the mantis shrimp and let drain. Soak the glass noodles in cold water for about 10 minutes to soften, then remove. Shred the carrot, slice the bell peppers into strips, and cut the onion into wedges. Clean the vegetables, wash, and let drain. Mince the shallots and garlic.
• Step 2: Next, heat cooking oil, fry the mantis shrimp quickly until both sides are firm, then remove and drain the oil.
• Step 3: Next, sauté a portion of the shallots and garlic, add the onion, carrot, bell peppers, and vegetables; stir-fry over high heat to keep their color and crispiness. Season to taste, add the mantis shrimp and stir well, cook for a few more minutes, then turn off the heat.
• Step 4: Sauté the remaining shallots and garlic, add the glass noodles and stir-fry over low heat, add soy sauce for flavor. When the glass noodles are soft, add all the vegetables and mantis shrimp, mix well, stir gently until the ingredients are combined, then turn off the heat.
• Step 5: Stir-fried mantis shrimp with glass noodles has chewy, soft noodles, infused with flavor, combined with the sweet and aromatic mantis shrimp meat and perfectly cooked vegetables. The dish is rich, easy to eat, and suitable for family meals or days when you want a change of taste.
  Discover more options like our whole dried squid for your next cooking adventure.

>>> See more: What dishes to make with mantis shrimp? Summary of super delicious recipes

3. Simple instructions for peeling mantis shrimp

To peel mantis shrimp quickly without breaking the meat, you can apply one of the two following methods:

• Method 1: Use scissors to cut a line along the back of the mantis shrimp, remove the head, and then gently peel off the shell on the back. Then turn over to the belly side and continue to peel the remaining shell, keeping the meat inside intact.
• Method 2: Use scissors to cut along the two sides from head to tail. Once the shell is loosened, you just need to remove the back and belly shells to easily extract the entire mantis shrimp meat.

4. How much does 1kg of mantis shrimp cost?

The price of mantis shrimp on the market today depends mainly on size and processing status. Small live mantis shrimp cost about 220,000 – 250,000 VND/kg, while larger, firmer, and tastier ones are usually sold at 350,000 – 400,000 VND/kg. For particularly large mantis shrimp, the price can be much higher, sometimes up to millions of VND per kg.

For pre-processed or ready-made mantis shrimp, the price is usually more stable at around 280,000 – 300,000 VND/kg, convenient for buyers while still ensuring quality and taste.

5. How to store mantis shrimp

Mantis shrimp do not live long after being caught; once dead, the meat easily becomes soft and loses quality. Therefore, proper storage will help maintain freshness and natural sweetness.

• Refrigeration: For short-term use or long-distance transport, mantis shrimp should be parboiled, let cool, then wrapped tightly and refrigerated. When using, only steam briefly or defrost gently to avoid drying out the meat. If not consumed within the day, you can wrap tightly and freeze, but storage time should not exceed 15 days.

• Anesthesia storage: This is a common method in seafood establishments. Mantis shrimp are placed in water mixed with specialized anesthetic and oxygen pumps, helping to prolong their lifespan and facilitate long-distance transport.
• Thermal shock storage: This method is often used when transporting live mantis shrimp far away. The mantis shrimp are placed in cold water to enter a state of hibernation, then put into airtight bags, pumped with oxygen, and placed in tightly covered foam boxes.

6. Notes when buying mantis shrimp

To choose fresh and delicious mantis shrimp, you should pay attention to some of the following signs:

• Prioritize live mantis shrimp: Choose those that swim vigorously; when flipping the belly, the legs should move flexibly. Avoid buying weak or motionless ones.
• Observe the shell: Fresh mantis shrimp usually have clear, shiny, natural-colored shells; avoid those with cloudy or dull-colored shells.
• Check frozen mantis shrimp: Choose products with a thin, clear ice glaze; intact packaging, and clearly printed information.
• Choose mantis shrimp with roe: Flip them over and see a red/pink line running along the body; these are roe-bearing mantis shrimp, which are fattier and more fragrant.
• Buy from reputable addresses: Prioritize seafood stores with brands and clear origins to ensure quality.
• Storage when transporting far: You can parboil the mantis shrimp and then chill them to maintain freshness and natural sweetness.

Through the above shares, surely you clearly understand what mantis shrimp is, its characteristics, and how to buy quality ones. Not only rich in nutrition, mantis shrimp can also be prepared into many appealing dishes, suitable for both family meals and gatherings. If you want to learn more about mantis shrimp and other types of seafood, don’t forget to visit the Ola Squid Blog to update more useful articles!
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