Shrimp skins are essential for calcium intake, but how should one eat them?

Fresh dried shrimp are very cheap. A handful added to soup or stir-fries can instantly enhance the flavor. However, some people dislike them for their small size, believing they must be less nutritious than large shrimp. In fact, fresh dried shrimp are rich in calcium and protein. So, how can you eat them to get the most nutrition? Here are a few recipes for fresh dried shrimp for you all, foodies! Come and check them out!

Fresh Dried Shrimp Recipes

Though small in size, small fish and shrimp are often high in calcium. For instance, fresh dried shrimp, while not as meaty as large shrimp, have nutritional value that should not be overlooked. So, how should you eat fresh dried shrimp? Below, we'll introduce you to a few recipes!

Dried Shrimp and Winter Melon

Recipe 1: Spicy Minced Meat with Dried Shrimp

Ingredients:

Sichuan peppercorns, dried chili peppers, minced meat, dried shrimp, dried tofu, salt, sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, cilantro

Instructions:

1. Sauté a dozen Sichuan peppercorns and a few dried chili peppers until fragrant, then remove them.

2. Add the marinated minced meat to the wok and stir-fry. Then add the cleaned dried shrimp and dried tofu, and continue stir-frying until dry.

3. Season with salt, soy sauce, and a little sugar. Before serving, add a few drops of sesame oil and some cilantro.

Recipe 2: Garlic-Flavored Dried Shrimp

Dried Shrimp and Onion

Ingredients:

Sun-dried dried shrimp, minced garlic, dried red chili peppers, salt, chicken powder, sugar

Instructions:

1. Rinse the dried shrimp. Crush and mince the garlic. Slice the dried red chili peppers.

2. Heat oil in a wok. When it's about 50% hot, add the minced garlic and chili peppers and stir-fry until fragrant.

3. Add the washed and drained dried shrimp, stir-frying over medium-low heat to slowly remove the moisture.

4. Finally, season with a little salt, chicken powder, and sugar to taste.

How to Choose Fresh Dried Shrimp

How do you pick fresh dried shrimp? The key is in one word: freshness! Yes, you must choose fresh dried shrimp to make your dishes delicious and savory. Here are some tips from Mommy Web Encyclopedia on how to select the best fresh dried shrimp!

1. Feel the dried shrimp. The drier they are, the better. They shouldn't be too moist, as moisture adds weight and makes them difficult to preserve.

2. You can taste a small piece to check the saltiness. Avoid very salty ones, as they contain too much salt, which is not good for your health. Dried shrimp with a mild flavor is generally better.

3. The color of fresh dried shrimp is natural and transparent, with a slight amber hue. Spoiled shrimp turn a uniform red and should not be chosen. Shrimp that look white are also not good.

Ham and Dried Shrimp with Radish Soup

How to Store Fresh Dried Shrimp

Many experienced mothers know that fresh dried shrimp can be a bit damp when bought. If stored improperly, they can easily grow bacteria. Therefore, it's crucial to store them correctly. So, how do you store fresh dried shrimp? Let Mommy Web Encyclopedia show you the way!

Here is a recommended method: Place the dried shrimp in a glass bottle and store it in a well-lit area. Occasionally open the bottle to let out moisture. What are the benefits? First, it prevents flavors from mixing. Second, it avoids dampness and mold.

Different types of dried shrimp require different storage methods. For light-salted dried shrimp (raw dried shrimp), you can spread them in the sun to dry, then store them in a bottle. For cooked dried shrimp, avoid sun-drying. Instead, air-dry them in a cool, shaded place before placing them in a bottle.

Nutritional Value of Fresh Dried Shrimp

Fresh dried shrimp are known as a "calcium booster." Don't be fooled by their small size; their nutritional value is no less than other types of seafood! Dried shrimp not only help the body absorb much-needed calcium for bone development but are also rich in protein and other essential nutrients. Let's take a look at the nutritional benefits of this delicious ingredient!

1. Dried shrimp are rich in a variety of minerals. Besides containing iodine, which is often lacking in terrestrial and freshwater organisms, they are also abundant in trace elements like potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and iron, as well as vitamins and theophylline.

2. Dried shrimp are known as a "natural calcium warehouse." Their calcium content is 80 times that of carp, 60 times that of large yellow croaker, 40 times that of eggs, 20 times that of chocolate, and 16 times that of milk.

3. Dried shrimp are rich in magnesium, which plays an important role in regulating heart function, protecting the cardiovascular system, reducing cholesterol in the blood, and helping to prevent arteriosclerosis, hypertension, and myocardial infarction.

Steamed Egg Custard with Dried Shrimp

Benefits and Effects of Fresh Dried Shrimp

People often say that eating dried shrimp is a great way to supplement calcium. Can dried shrimp really help with that? To some extent, yes, but they also have other benefits. Want to know what they are? Read on!

1. Eating dried shrimp can prevent osteoporosis caused by calcium deficiency. Adding some to meals for the elderly can also help stimulate their appetite and improve their overall health.

2. Eating dried shrimp can protect your cardiovascular health. Rich in magnesium, dried shrimp help regulate heart function, protect the cardiovascular system, reduce blood cholesterol, and play a role in preventing arteriosclerosis, hypertension, and myocardial infarction.

3. It can help prevent pregnancy-induced hypertension. The third trimester is a critical period for the development of the fetus's bones, teeth, and nervous system. A calcium deficiency can lead to conditions like osteomalacia, hypocalcemic convulsions, pregnancy fatigue, hypertension syndrome, or premature birth and low birth weight.

4. It can help treat neurasthenia. The calming effect of dried shrimp is often used to treat conditions like neurasthenia and autonomic dysfunction.

What to Note When Eating Fresh Dried Shrimp

Fresh dried shrimp are delicious and inexpensive, so many families keep them stocked in their refrigerators year-round. Adding a little to congee or soup makes the flavor incredibly savory! However, as good as they are, you shouldn't eat too much, and there are some precautions to be aware of. Want to know what they are?

First, it's best not to drink large amounts of beer with dried shrimp, as this can produce excessive uric acid, leading to gout. It's better to pair seafood with dry white wine, as its fruit acids have antibacterial and deodorizing effects.

Second, because dried shrimp are high in calcium, it's best not to eat them at night, as this may increase the risk of urinary stones.

Third, do not eat dried shrimp with grapes, hawthorn, pomegranates, or persimmons. These fruits contain tannic acid. When eaten with seafood, the tannic acid can react with the protein in the seafood to form precipitates, which in severe cases can cause vomiting, bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, significantly affecting digestion.

Dried Shrimp and Eggplant Casserole

These are the precautions for eating fresh dried shrimp! Foodies, be sure to pay close attention before you dig in to avoid any unnecessary impact on your health!