What is Slipper Lobster? How much is 1kg? Proper preparation and delicious dishes from Slipper Lobster

I. What Is Slipper Lobster (Tôm Sú)?

1. Identification of Slipper Lobster

Slipper lobsters are impressively sized crustaceans, averaging about 36 cm each, and are particularly notable for their substantial weight, with each lobster weighing up to 650 grams. Their shells are adorned with an attractive combination of various colors such as red, brown, gray, and green, creating a vibrant appearance for this species. Slipper lobster meat stands out for its remarkable elasticity and firmness compared to other types of shrimp.

What’s special about slipper lobsters is that they are cold-blooded creatures, susceptible to changes in the environment and climate. Originally, slipper lobsters existed naturally in offshore marine environments, but due to consumer demand and preferences, they have been successfully farmed in various freshwater regions.

2. Nutritional Value of Slipper Lobster

Slipper lobster is a rich source of protein, an important nutrient not found in all foods. In 10g of slipper lobster meat, you can find as much as 18.4g of protein, an impressive figure validated by scientific research. Besides protein, slipper lobsters also provide essential dietary protein for the Vietnamese, necessary for body health.

Slipper lobsters are also an excellent source of vitamin B12, an important vitamin that plays a role in energy metabolism in the body. It helps synthesize proteins and nucleotides, and a deficiency in vitamin B12 can lead to fatigue, dizziness, weak muscles, and even serious issues like neurological disorders, anemia, and memory loss.

Furthermore, slipper lobsters are rich in iron, an important nutrient for the circulatory system. Iron deficiency can lead to conditions like anemia, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Notably, consuming slipper lobster is considered a top solution to supplement iron, especially for children and pregnant women.

Finally, slipper lobsters contain a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids, a nutrient that fights fatigue, enhances mood, and has antioxidant properties. Omega-3 also has anti-aging properties and protects women’s health. All these nutritional values make slipper lobster an essential part of our daily diet.

II. Common Types of Slipper Lobster

1. Mother Slipper Lobster

Mother slipper lobsters, also known by many names such as sea slipper lobsters, type 1 slipper lobsters, or natural slipper lobsters, are impressive lobsters with large sizes, sometimes rivaling spiny lobsters. The special thing about mother slipper lobsters is their limited supply, which significantly increases their value compared to farmed slipper lobsters.

Mother slipper lobster meat is truly delicious and unique, with a sweet and firm texture that carries the characteristic essence of the sea. Compared to spiny lobsters, mother slipper lobsters do not fall behind in flavor, and they even have the advantage of providing a more abundant meat experience. It’s an excellent choice for seafood and unique delicacies enthusiasts.

2. Ca Mau Slipper Lobster

Ca Mau slipper lobster is one of the prominent specialties of the southern region of Vietnam. This type of lobster is entirely naturally farmed, preferring to eat natural food sources and being cared for with sophisticated farming techniques.

The meat of Ca Mau slipper lobster has an excellent taste, sweet, and firm texture, with a relatively larger size compared to spiny lobsters, typically measuring between 10 to 13 centimeters. Thanks to this special flavor, the value of this lobster is relatively high, although it is still lower than that of mother slipper lobsters.

III. How Much Does Slipper Lobster Cost per Kilogram?

The price of slipper lobsters varies depending on several factors such as catching methods, preservation processes, and the origin of production. The size of each lobster also plays a crucial role in determining the price.

In the case of sea slipper lobsters, the price often fluctuates depending on the number of lobsters per kilogram at a specific time. For example, in September 2021, the price for sea slipper lobsters with around 20 – 25 lobsters per kilogram was usually around 550,000 Vietnamese dong, while the price for sea slipper lobsters with 30 – 35 lobsters per kilogram typically fell to about 450,000 Vietnamese dong.

However, farmed slipper lobsters generally have a lower price compared to sea slipper lobsters. For instance, the price for farmed slipper lobsters with 30 – 35 lobsters per kilogram can be as low as 350,000 Vietnamese dong or even lower.

IV. Properly Cleaning Slipper Lobster

To clean slipper lobsters while keeping them intact, you can follow these steps:

Step 1

– Hold the lobster firmly and use your thumb and index finger to pinch one side of the lobster’s head, and use the thumb and index finger of the other hand to pinch the other side of the head (near the joint).
– Pull the head and body of the lobster apart while squeezing the roe sac.

Step 2

Next, take a piece of the black intestine from the underside of the lobster and pull it out.

Step 3

– Rinse the lobster thoroughly with clean water.

As a result, you’ll have a slipper lobster that has been cleaned but still intact, looking very appealing and suitable for grilling, frying, boiling, or using in salads and other appetizers.

Additionally, if you want to extract only the slipper lobster meat, you can follow these steps:

Step 1

– Rinse the lobster with water.
– Use your hands to split the head and body of the lobster.

Step 2

Use a small knife to cut along the back of the lobster and make a longitudinal cut at the tail.

Step 3

Use your hands to separate the two sides of the lobster shell.

Step 4

Cut the lobster body into two pieces and use a knife to cut along the black line on the lobster body.

This method will help you easily obtain slipper lobster meat for use in dishes such as lobster soup, lobster salad, and many more without using the lobster shell.

V. Delicious Slipper Lobster Dishes

1. Slipper Lobster Grilled with Cheese

To make slipper lobster grilled with cheese, you’ll need the following ingredients:

– Slipper lobsters: 400g
– Butter: 50g
– Chopped garlic: 10g
– Black pepper: 1 tablespoon
– Seasoning powder: 1 tablespoon
– Cream cheese: 1 box

Here are the steps to prepare this dish:

1. Clean the slipper lobsters by removing the heads and shells.

2. Prepare the cheese sauce: In a bowl, take out the cheese from 4 cheese wedges, add 50g of butter, 10g of chopped garlic, 1 tablespoon of black pepper, and 1 tablespoon of seasoning powder. Mix well.

3. Marinate the slipper lobsters with the cheese sauce mixture.

4. Grill the slipper lobsters for about 10-15 minutes until they are cooked.

5. Serve hot with the remaining cheese sauce.

This dish combines the natural sweetness of slipper lobster meat with the creamy richness of cheese, creating a mouthwatering experience.

2. Slipper Lobster Salad

To make slipper lobster salad, you’ll need the following ingredients:

– Slipper lobsters: 400g
– Mixed vegetables: 200g
– Lemon juice: 2 tablespoons
– Fish sauce: 2 tablespoons
– Sugar: 1 tablespoon
– Chopped garlic: 10g
– Chili pepper: 1 piece

Here are the steps to prepare this dish:

1. Clean the slipper lobsters and boil them for about 5 minutes. Then, remove the meat from the shells.

2. Mix lemon juice, fish sauce, sugar, chopped garlic, and chili pepper to create the dressing.

3. Toss the slipper lobster meat and mixed vegetables with the dressing.

4. Serve as a refreshing and healthy salad.

This dish combines the freshness of vegetables with the succulent slipper lobster meat and a tangy dressing, making it a perfect appetizer or light meal.

VII. Conclusion

This article has provided you with information about slipper lobsters, their price per kilogram, and guidance on how to prepare and store slipper lobsters. We hope you have gained valuable knowledge, and don’t forget to follow KINGFISH for more discoveries about various seafood offerings.