Snow crab nigiri

Snow crab (Zuwaigani)

What is Zuwaigani?
Zuwaigani live in the Japan Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk. The shells of males are about 15 cm in width, and the females’ shells are 7 to 8 cm wide. The names of these crabs differ depending on region. Males are called Matsuba-gani or Echizen-gani while females are called Seiko-gani or Kobako-gani.

【Nigiri: Ebi/Kani】What does Zuwaigani nigiri taste like?
Since Zuwaigani is not regular Edo style sushi material, it isn’t always chosen by sushi chef. Although the leg part of male crab are preferred as sushi ingredient because it has tender yet fine texture and distinctive sweet taste. Imports from countries such as Russia and Canada are more and more consumed nowadays.

Zuwaigani (Queen crabs) contains high levels of free amino acids. There are sweet taste component in glycine or alanine, umami taste component in glutamic acid, and bitter taste component in arginine. Because all these are balanced well, they produce such unique delicious taste.

Also called Tanner crab.