Yin yang fish (Chinese: 陰陽魚, 糖醋活魚, 呼叫魚; also called dead-and-alive fish) is a Chinese dish where a live fish is fried whole. The dish originates from Sichuan, China.[1][2]
Preparation[edit]
Yin yang fish is prepared by wrapping the head of a scaled fish (usually carp) in ice cubes and then oil-frying it whole. The fish is then covered in sauce and served on a plate where its head continues to twitch even after its body has been cooked (likely due to remnant electrical impulses after death).[3][4][5][6]
Controversy[edit]
In 2007, a Taiwanese restaurant owner sparked outrage when he began serving the dish in his restaurant in Chiayi, Taiwan, with a city official and members of the public criticizing the cruelty of the dish.[7] Following public outcry, the dish was subsequently removed from the menu and banned in Taiwan.[8][3]
A video of a dish in 2009 was condemned by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals calling a video showcasing it as "disgusting".[9]
See also[edit]
- Cruelty to animals
- Ikizukuri, live fish served as sashimi in Japanese cuisine
- Drunken shrimp, shrimp sometimes eaten alive in Chinese cuisine
- Eating live seafood
References[edit]
- ^ "Restaurant owner heavily criticized for serving live fish - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 2007-07-09. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
- ^ 三立新聞網 (2016-02-23). "四川「陰陽魚」做法太殘忍 網友批根本是虐待動物 | 國際 | 三立新聞網 SETN.COM". www.setn.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 2023-05-20.
- ^ a b "Yin and Yang Fish – A Controversial Dish That's Both Dead and Alive". www.odditycentral.com. 2021-05-04. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
- ^ "Why Do Fish Still Move After Being Gutted". 2023-02-18.
- ^ (Traditional Chinese) "陰陽魚活炸上菜 「殘忍」". Apple Daily (Taiwan). July 9, 2007. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
- ^ "Chefs refuse to serve 'dead-and-alive fish' - the China Post". Archived from the original on 2014-06-06. Retrieved 2009-11-27.
- ^ Deutsche Presse-Agentur (2007-07-08). "Taiwan restaurant blasted for serving "dead-and-alive fish"". Monsters and Critics. Archived from the original on 2010-07-27.
- ^ Lok-sin, Loa (9 July 2007). "Restaurant owner heavily criticized for serving live fish". Taipei Times.
- ^ "Video: Fried fish that still breathes -- a delicacy or downright distasteful?". latimesblogs.latimes.com. 18 November 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-11-26.