Crucian: benefit and harm to the human body

Crucian carp is a typical representative of ray-fin fish of the cyprinid family. It is distinguished by its unpretentiousness to the environment, survives even in those conditions in which any other fish would not last a day.

What does carp look like and where is it found?

The main place of life of crucian carp are fresh water reservoirs. It is found throughout the Russian Federation, including in the Far Eastern and Siberian regions. In addition to the Russian Federation, fish is found in America, in Asian and European countries, feeling great not only in natural water reservoirs, such as reed estuaries, river backwaters, shallow lakes, but also in artificial water basins. The most ideal place for the settlement of crucian carp is considered to be a reservoir with a muddy bottom, a sedentary course and a large amount of aquatic vegetation, but fish is extremely rare in mountain rivers. In severe climatic conditions, it falls into hibernation, is very sensitive to extreme circumstances and, at the slightest danger, is able to dig into the silt for half a meter.

Crucian carp has a wide body with flattened sides and a rounded back, on which there is a large fin. The most important function is performed by the sides of the fish, since it is here that the pores are located that are directly associated with subcutaneous receptors. With their help, crucian carp easily catches any, even the most insignificant movements at a fairly large distance, which significantly helps when hunting and approaching a dangerous predator. The upper part is represented by a small head with small, but expressive dark eyes, the raised mouth is filled with one row of teeth.

The scales are dense, large in size, has a smooth structure and a very nice appearance. Depending on the environment and nutrition, the length of an adult is from 40 to 60 cm, the average weight is 1.5–3 kg, but there are also representatives weighing 7–8 kg. The color of the scales is from silver to a color reminiscent of old gold. Most often, crucian carp is golden in color with a grayish-yellow or greenish tint. On average, life expectancy varies from 10 to 12 years.

The onset of puberty usually occurs at the age of 3-4 years. The spawning period occurs in mid-spring and early summer, when the water warms up to 15 degrees. The process of throwing caviar takes place in two stages with a break of 10-14 days. Caviar has a sticky structure, which allows it to easily attach to coastal vegetation. About a week later, larvae emerge from the eggs, the fry subsequently hatch from them, which immediately begin to feed on plankton, gradually switching to plant food. The process of group spawning takes place rapidly for several days. The number of males participating in spawning is several times smaller than the female representatives. One female is capable of sweeping about 300,000 eggs at a time.

The diet of the crucian carp includes plankton, water plants, small invertebrates, crustaceans, worms, insects. This menu allows slow crucian carp to grow quickly and gain weight. In winter, while in a sleepy state, they can easily do without any food.

Kinds

Ichthyologists distinguish five main types of crucian carp: gold, silver, goldfish, white, mabuna. The first three species are most popular.

1. Goldfish. The most common and familiar to all.It has a characteristic golden color. It lives in overgrown ponds, ponds, lakes. Most common in the Eurasian part of the country and Siberian lakes. It is distinguished by larger sizes and poor mobility. Most often, representatives of this species are kept in flocks.
2. Goldfish. It is smaller than golden in size. Most individuals by gender are females with silver scales. A characteristic feature is the presence of a large number of stamens in the gills, in contrast to other species. You can meet in any Eurasian reservoirs, although initially the Siberian rivers were considered the habitat.
3. Gold fish. This species is not found in natural nature, as it was bred artificially by breeders and is considered decorative. Such a crucian can be recognized by its bright orange color. Looks great in a home aquarium, unpretentious.
4. Mabuna and crucian carp. Less common species, the main habitat - water bodies of Japan. It is extremely rare to find representatives of these species in the Far Eastern rivers.

What is different from carp

Despite the fact that crucian carp belongs to the cyprinid family, there are a number of characteristic features that make it possible to distinguish between these two types of fish:

1. The presence of a mustache in a carp externally immediately distinguishes it from a beakless carp.
2. The carp head has a slightly curved shape with a distinctive hump in the lower part of the forehead.
3. The crucian's lips are thinner and less fleshy.
4. The body of the carp representatives is distinguished by its height, elasticity and contraction, the scales are much smaller and lighter than the cyprinids.
5. The meat of the carp has a pink-red tint, in contrast to the white tint of the carp meat. The first is less bony.
6. The average maximum weight of crucian carp is up to 3 kg, and for carps - up to 20 kg, the length can reach up to 1 m.

Enemies of Karas

Crucian carp, like most fish and animals, have their own enemies. In the natural environment, the main danger for crucian carp is all kinds of predatory fish. Pike loves to enjoy carp most of all. It is not without reason that the proverb “there was a pike for the crucian carp to snooze” appeared. Frogs and newts for the destruction of carp species may well compete with predators, because eggs and fry of the crucian carp are a real delicacy for them. Birds such as seagulls and herons are also happy to eat this leisurely fish. Carnivorous animals (foxes, otters, muskrats) are also involved in successful carp fishing. Well, the most dangerous and serious enemy of crucian carp is, of course, a fisherman.

And this is not surprising, because crucian carp has been of great commercial value for a long time. Due to the ever-increasing number and expansion of the habitat, representatives of carp species occupy leading positions in commercial fishing. Many private fisheries cultivate crucian carp for sale.

Composition and calorie content

Crucian meat not only tastes good, but also has a lot of useful properties. It contains mineral elements, saturated fatty acids, calcium, fluorine, phosphorus, magnesium, chromium, iron, molybdenum, nickel, sodium, vitamins A, E, D. The energy value of the edible part of the crucian carp is very small - only 87 kcal per 100 g, fat content - 1.8 g, protein - 17.7 g, all of which are easily digestible. That is why it relates to dietary products.

What is useful for crucian carp

General benefit

Since the composition of carp meat includes a huge number of micro and macro elements, as well as vitamins, its use in food has a positive effect on the whole organism. With the regular inclusion of crucian carp in the diet, you can increase immunity, improve mood. Also, carp meat helps fight infectious and cancerous diseases, improves eyesight, favorably affects the work of the cardiovascular system, normalizes blood pressure and heart rhythms.

Medical experts strongly recommend eating crucian meat at least 2-3 times a week.

For women

For every woman, questions of appearance are very important.Eating crucian carp can improve the condition of hair, skin and nails, slow down the aging process, and maintain ideal body shapes. Carp meat has a beneficial effect on the condition of the teeth, eliminates problems with the thyroid gland.

For men

The benefit of using crucian carp for men is to saturate the body with polyunsaturated fats, high-grade protein, vitamins and useful substances. In the modern rhythm of life, men work very hard, and they just need to increase their mental performance. Inclusion of crucian dishes in the menu will help solve this problem, as well as reduce the risk of heart attack. Speaking about the male body, it is worth noting that regular eating of fish in the most favorable way affects male potency and has a preventive effect against cancer of the prostate.

During pregnancy

Women who are expecting a baby can and should eat fish. The substances in its composition affect a number of processes:

• brain cells mature faster, which positively affects the psychomotor development of the infant;
• increased immunity;
• thick blood liquefies;
• the correct formation of the cell membrane occurs;
• the risk of developing hypertension is reduced.

Scientists have proven that eating fish during pregnancy improves the mood of the expectant mother, and this contributes to the birth of active and quick-witted children. But along with the use of crucian carp, you must add to your diet more fatty varieties of fish (chum, catfish, mackerel, herring, flounder).

When breastfeeding

Crucian carp is considered one of the most useful fish during breastfeeding. Due to its high protein content, the product must be included in the menu of breast-feeding women. Unlike sea fish, the river fish will not cause an allergic reaction, and the nutrients that a young mother so needs will enter the body no less. With the use of crucian carp, the body of a recently born woman recovers faster. Zinc in the composition of carp meat has a positive effect on memory and concentration. Crucian is necessary for a nursing woman also due to its lactogenic effect.

Doctors recommend that young mothers cook fish in any way other than frying. Fried foods have a serious burden on the digestive system, and this is undesirable during the postpartum recovery of the female body.

For kids

Be sure to include this freshwater fish in the children's menu. Studies have shown that in children who regularly eat fish dishes, the immune system improves, the digestive tract normalizes, appetite increases, and mental and physical development occurs in a timely manner. In addition, the calcium, fluorine and phosphorus contained in the crucian carp have a significant effect on the formation of tooth enamel, which is extremely important during the period of loss of milk teeth.

When losing weight

When losing weight, crucian, undoubtedly, should be included in the diet as often as possible. In addition to its low calorie content, fish meat, due to its composition, will help not only normalize metabolic processes, but also dissolve fat.

With pancreatitis

Due to its low fat content, crucian carp can be eaten by people suffering from pancreatitis, but not during a period of chronic exacerbation. At this time, it is better to completely abandon any fish.

Harm and contraindications

Despite the huge number of useful properties, when eating crucian carp for food, there are some contraindications:

• an allergic reaction to fish products;
• individual intolerance to fish smell;
• gout.

You can’t eat stale fish, as a spoiled product can cause serious departure.

Do not cook fish caught in contaminated water bodies. Such products may contain a large amount of heavy metals that can harm the body. In addition, an individual may be infected with helminths.

Is Karas caviar useful

In addition to fish meat, many eat crucian caviar. Despite the nondescript appearance, it has many useful properties that are not inferior in importance to caviar of fish of noble breeds. The composition of carp eggs includes:

• vitamins of group A, B, D, E, PP;
• minerals such as fluorine, calcium, zinc;
• healthy fats, including omega-3;
• pure protein.

Caviar can be fried, baking is also suitable, but it is best to salt, then the beneficial properties will be preserved.

How to pickle

Consider the simplest and fastest way to prepare salted caviar of crucian carp.

Step 1. Preparation of caviar
We take fresh fish. We cut the abdomen and carefully remove the sac with caviar from each individual, being careful not to damage the gallbladder. Otherwise, the caviar will be spoiled by bile and acquire a bitter taste. All the extracted bags are sent to a clean bowl. To remove the film, you can use a mixer at low speeds or a sieve, but it is better to do everything the old fashioned way. We take gauze, put caviar in a gauze bag and send it to hard-salt water, previously heated to 70 degrees. We remove the films and set the eggs aside.

Step 2. Preparation of brine
There is nothing complicated in the preparation of brine. We will need water in a ratio of 1 to 3, where the amount of caviar is 1, and the water is 3. Bring the liquid to a boil, add the usual salt based on 1 liter of water 2 tablespoons. After boiling, remove from heat.

Step 3. Salting the game
In the cooked hot brine, dip the carp eggs, leave for 10 minutes. After the specified time, we take out, filter with gauze or sieve, add a little vegetable oil and mix. The product is ready to eat.

Harm and contraindications for carp caviar

Due to the high content of protein, which is highly allergenic, people with allergies are not recommended to eat crucian caviar. Also, this fish delicacy should be abandoned during the weight loss period, because the composition contains a high fat content, which makes this product high-calorie.

How to choose and store

In order to prepare not only tasty, but also healthy dishes from crucian carp, you need to check a lot of parameters when buying:

• eyes should not be dull;
• the normal color of the gills is considered to be dark red, no green;
• the abdomen is firm, without obvious cavities.

It is better to buy fish in supermarkets or specialized fish stores, not in the spontaneous market. If possible, it is better to buy live fish, its freshness will not be in doubt.

Depending on the condition of the purchased fish, there are certain requirements for its storage.

Fresh fish
It is better to cook it immediately, but if for some reason this cannot be done, then it can be left to be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 2 days. A prerequisite before sending to the refrigerator is to clean the crucian carp, gut all the insides, wash them well, remove excess moisture with a napkin or towel, salt and drizzle with lemon juice, cover and only after all these manipulations send them for short-term storage.

If the shelf life is delayed, then it is better to move the fish to the freezer, after sending it to a plastic bag.

Frozen fish
You can store in the freezer for several months. It must be defrosted gradually, without the help of hot water and other warming objects. You can not re-freeze, such a product will lose not only the appearance, but also the quality.

Before proceeding with the preparation of dishes from crucian carp, it must be cleaned from scales and gut guts.

How to clean carp

This is not the most pleasant process for every housewife, but if you use some of the tips of connoisseurs of fish cooking, you can perform this task not only quickly, but also efficiently. The main nuances:

1. Fresh fish of medium and large sizes are best cleaned.
2. You can use special devices. Crucian carp must be placed on a cutting board, it is better if it is equipped with a clip that will fix the carcass by the tail, which will help to quickly and safely remove the scales. To remove the scales, take a sharp knife or a special device (fish scaler, four-sided grater), which can be purchased in stores. If none of the above is at hand, you can use the old fishing method: take a spoon and a fork. Hold the fish with a fork, and remove the scales against the growth with a spoon, that is, from tail to head.
3. During the cleaning process, the scales will fly apart. To prevent this, you can clean the fish in a basin of water. Water resistance will not allow the scales to leave the pelvis.
4. After removing the scales, it is necessary to clean the inside of the fish, simply gut it. To do this, cut the abdomen along the entire length and carefully remove the contents of the crucian carp without touching the gall bladder, because if it is damaged, the fish will get a bitter taste. If suddenly you still couldn’t leave the bubble unharmed, it is advised to immediately sprinkle the place of break with salt, it neutralizes the unpleasant odor and taste. Be sure to remove the black film on the inner walls.
5. The main thing is not to forget to remove the gills. For this, it is necessary to cut the connecting jumper between the head and the body. Using a knife, pick up the gills and remove them, holding with your thumb.
6. The completion of the cleaning of the crucian carp is thorough washing with cold water of the internal and external parts of the fish carcass.

Now the crucian is ready for further cooking.

How to make crucian tasty: recipes

Crucian carp can be prepared in many ways, below are the most popular.

In the oven

For baking crucian carp in the oven, it is better to use heat-resistant glassware, cast iron, ceramic with enamel coating. It is such a capacity that can convey a great aroma and the right taste of fish. Aluminum and metal utensils must be discarded.

Before sending fish to the oven, you must marinate it. To do this, just soak the fish in vinegar or lemon solution for 30 minutes and add spices. It is better to make incisions on the sides, this will help reduce the number of seeds. Cooking time depends on the recipe and the size of the fish. Do not use too high a temperature, this will dry out the tender meat.

Below is one of the most popular and loved by many recipes for crucian cooked in the oven.

Baked crucian in sour cream with onions
You will need:

• 2 medium crucians;
• 1 onion;
• 2 tbsp sour cream;
• 100 ml of vegetable oil;
• 50 ml of lemon juice;
• salt and spices to taste.

We rub the pre-cleaned fish on both sides with spices and sprinkle with lemon juice, after a while we coat with sour cream. To obtain a uniform taste, we send crucian carp to onion cut in half rings for 30 minutes. At this time, we make foil molds from foil. At the bottom of the resulting form, lay out a part of the onion slices, put crucian carp on top, cover with the remaining onion, add vegetable oil. We carry out the same manipulations with the second crucian. We send both fish to a baking sheet, on the bottom of which we pour water to avoid burning and drying out of the dish. Bake in the oven for half an hour at a temperature of 180 degrees. Karasi are ready.

In the pan

The most popular and fastest way to cook crucians is to fry in a pan.Fish prepared in this way is very tasty and aromatic. It is ideal to use fresh crucian carp.

Classic fried crucians in a pan
In order to pamper yourself and your loved ones with a healthy fried dinner, you will need:

• 1 kg of fresh crucian carp;
• 1 medium onion;
• 6 tbsp flour;
• salt, spices, lemon - to taste and desire.

In pre-cleaned and gutted fish, we make deep vertical cuts from the head to the tail at a distance of 10 mm from each other on both sides of the carcass. This will help significantly reduce the number of small bones. Sprinkle with salt and spices and set aside. At this time, add vegetable oil to a well-heated skillet. Bread each crucian in flour and send into hot oil. The frying time is 5-7 minutes on each side over moderate heat. Time depends on the size of the individual. To achieve a golden and crispy crust, you do not need to cover the pan with a lid. To remove excess fat, put the finished fish on a dish previously covered with a paper towel. Fried crucian carp can be decorated with fried golden onions and sprinkled with lemon juice. Our delicious and most importantly healthy dinner is ready.

On the grill

This cooking method is ideal for weight watchers. It is on the grill that crucian carp is not only tasty and healthy, but also dietary. Indeed, for its preparation high-calorie foods, such as vegetable oil, will not be required.

Recipe for crucian carp on the grill
Prepared fish must first be marinated. You can use any marinade to your taste. But the following are considered the most popular and delicious:

1. Soya. Add 1 tsp to soy sauce apple cider vinegar and favorite spices.
2. Dry marinade. You can cook it yourself, giving preference to your gastronomic addictions, or buy the finished mixture in the store. For a better uniform distribution of marinade over all internal and external parts of the fish, it is necessary to add a little olive oil to the dry mixture. Grated crucians wrap with cling film and put in the refrigerator for an hour.
3. Sour cream and mayonnaise. Mix 3 tbsp. sour cream and mayonnaise, add 1 tsp. salt, half a lemon, chopped onions, spices. Pour crucian carp with this marinade and let them brew for 3 hours.

The process of pickling when cooking fish on the grill is a prerequisite. It will give the fish meat a juicy taste and prevent the crust from drying out. The larger and more diverse the composition of spices in the marinade, the tastier and more aromatic the crucian carp will be.

Important nuances:

1. In order for the fish to fry evenly and not burn out, it is better to grill it over charcoal rather than over an open fire.
2. To avoid sticking of fish to the grate, you must first lightly grease the latter with vegetable oil.
3. The minimum frying time is 15 minutes on each side.

Grilled

This method of preparation is not much different from the mangal one. The main difference is that frying occurs on an open grill or in a grill pan. This dish can be attributed to diet.

You will need the following ingredients:

• 3 medium crucians;
• 50 ml of soy sauce and sunflower oil;
• 0.5 tsp seasoning;
• half a lemon.

Mix soy sauce, oil, seasonings, lemon juice in a bowl. Mix everything thoroughly. We rub the already cleaned carcass both on the inside and on the outside, pour the remaining marinade onto the fish and leave for half an hour. Grill for 7-10 minutes on each side, without adding oil. Grilled Karasiki ready.

In a slow cooker

When preparing their culinary masterpieces, modern housewives more and more often use the novelty of kitchen equipment - a multicooker. There are many recipes for her. And, of course, such a popular fish is no exception.

Ingredients:

• 3 small crucian carp;
• large onion;
• 1.5 tbsp sour cream;
• 40 g butter;
• spices to taste;
• flour and vegetable oil - as additional ingredients.

Cut the crucian carp into medium slices. We turn on the "Frying" mode, add a little vegetable oil to the bowl. Pieces of fish pre-breaded in flour are sent to the multicooker bowl. Fry for 5-7 minutes on each side and spread on a plate.

In a bowl, fry the onion sliced ​​in half rings, add sour cream and spices. We send the fried crucians to this sour cream sauce. An important point - the fish should be completely immersed in liquid. If the sauce is small, dilute it with water.

From the "Frying" mode, switch to "Extinguishing". Set the cooking time to 30 minutes. After half an hour, the crucians stewed in sour cream are ready, we serve them hot.

What can be prepared from crucian carp: recipes

In addition to the above methods for making crucians, you can use them as the main ingredient in both the first and second courses.

Ear

The ear from the crucian carp is excellent. The cost is very affordable, and the taste of the first dish is not worse than when using expensive fish.

You will need the following products:

• crucian carp - 4 pcs.;
• medium-sized onions and carrots - 1 pc.;
• potatoes - 3 pcs.;
• salt, pepper, bay leaf and herbs - to taste.

Pour the cleaned fish with water and put on fire. While the water begins to boil, finely chop the onion, three carrots on a coarse grater. Peel the potatoes and cut them into cubes. After boiling, we send all the prepared vegetables to the pan. Add salt, pepper, lavrushka and cook on average 20 minutes. The preparedness of fish soup can be determined by potatoes. After cooking, pour greens into the ear and let it brew for 5-7 minutes on the stove turned off. Tasty and cheap ear ready.

Cutlets

Often crucian carp are used to prepare second courses. One of the most popular, of course, fish cakes.

Since crucian carp is bony fish, it is necessary to observe some conditions when cooking minced meat for our meatballs. To make the stuffing quality and uniform, remove the bones from the pulp of the crucian carp as much as possible. To do this, lower the cleaned fish into boiling water for a couple of minutes, then carefully remove the ridge, remove large ribs and cleanse small bones as much as possible. Grind the resulting fillet through a fine wire rack several times. In the minced meat, add onions in a ratio of 2-3 heads per 2 kg of fish, a couple of cloves of garlic, salt and spices to taste. Adding a few tablespoons of sour cream or cream will add juiciness. If the minced meat is beaten with a blender, then the patties will be magnificent. Fry the cutlets in hot oil, pre-breaded in breadcrumbs, flour or semolina of your choice.

The ideal side dish for fish cakes would be fresh or stewed vegetables, buckwheat porridge or mashed potatoes.

Interesting Facts

In conclusion, I would like to bring some interesting facts about crucian carp.

1. Despite its unpretentious attitude to the habitat, crucian carp is very moody in choosing food. Many fishermen note this fact. Today he enjoys eating bread, tomorrow - worms, and on the third day he generally prefers polystyrene. So his gastronomic tastes and passions are not understood. That is why ordinary crucian carp is considered one of the most capricious fish in terms of food.
2. Crucian is the owner of the best sense of smell. It captures and distinguishes thousands of different odors that are released by various living organisms and substances in its body of water.
3. Rumor has it that crucian carp is the smartest member of the entire cyprinid family. It is he who can easily bypass fishing nets and outwit poachers. At the sight of a fishing net, this cunning fish is able to lie on the bottom of a reservoir directly on its side. After the danger of being caught passes, she will calmly float about her business.
4. The fame of the most careful fish was entrenched in the crucian carp. He is panicky afraid of large hooks and large sinkers.In order for the catch to be successful, it is necessary to use several small pellets and hook them as far as possible from the hook.
5. Crucian is very fond of all new and unusual smells that have nothing to do with his usual diet. For example, he will certainly be interested in the garlic aroma, the smell of the drug Corvalol, valerian, gasoline. Fishermen who know about this reliable fact, when fishing, successfully use such weakness of crucian carp. And the fans and defenders of the fish called him "fish toxicomaniac."
6. This is a very unpredictable fish. Even the most avid fishermen, going to catch crucian carp, will not be able to say with certainty whether fishing will be successful or not. The behavior of the crucian is impossible to calculate. And no suitable weather conditions, favorable wind, moon phases can not affect the unpredictable nature of the carp. With regard to fishing, it all depends on luck.
7. Curiosity often plays a cruel joke with crucian carp. Artful fishermen specially with the help of a stick raise silt from the bottom and thereby muddy the water in the pond. Undoubtedly, this attracts small crucians in the hope of easy prey, and they go straight to the fishing spot deliberately created by the fisherman. Large individuals do not disregard this behavior and soon go for them.

Photo of a crucian