Crucian carp (lat. Carassium) is a small genus of fish, including 5 species and belonging to the Carp family. The most common 3 types of crucian carp:
1) Carassium carassium - Golden crucian, or common crucian. Lives from Central Europe to Eastern Siberia;
2) Carassium gibelio - Silver carp. The natural habitat is the Pacific Ocean, Siberia, the lower reaches of the rivers of the Aral Basin. It was introduced in many fresh water bodies of Siberia and Europe, so now it is often found together with the Golden carp, and the Silver carp often replaces the Golden carp. The appearance of hybrids of two species is also possible;
3) Carassium auratus - Goldfish. It is a form of crucian carp, artificially bred from Golden carp (China). Currently, there are more than a dozen breeds.
In culinary terms, only the first two types of crucian carp are of interest. Their distinctive features:
a) the body of golden carp has a yellow tint, from golden to copper-red, and silver carp has a silvery-white color, sometimes with a greenish tint, although sometimes yellowish individuals are also found;
b) on the lateral line, the golden carp has 33 scales, the silver carp has up to 31, and they are somewhat larger;
c) in profile, the head of the golden carp is more rounded than that of the silver carp;
d) juvenile goldfish have a dark spot in front of the caudal fin, which disappears with age; young goldfish do not have it;
e) golden carp can reach a length of 50 cm with a mass of over 3 kg, while the silver carp has the following layout of parameters - length up to 40 cm, weight up to 2 kg.
Golden and silver carp are not much different from each other in terms of lifestyle, chemical composition and, accordingly, useful properties. Therefore, further it makes sense to talk about them in general.
Description of crucian
The crucian carp has a high body with a thick back, slightly laterally compressed, a long dorsal fin, and large scales that are smooth to the touch.
In the mouth, one row of pharyngeal teeth.
Carp lifestyle
Carp is found only in low-lying and swampy rivers and lakes. In mountainous areas (mountain lakes) is extremely rare.
Sexual maturity occurs at 3-4 years of age. Spawning occurs in the spring, each female lays up to 300 thousand sparks directly on the vegetation.
Crucian carp is a surprisingly tenacious fish that can exist even in those reservoirs that completely freeze through in winter. It's all about the ability of crucian carp to fall into suspended animation (hibernation), while it is buried in silt to a depth of 50-70 cm. Its vitality is also used by amateur fishermen who use small crucians as live bait for catching predatory fish.
The diet of crucian carp is aquatic vegetation, zooplankton, zoobenthos, small invertebrates and dead parts of plants (detritus).
Crucian carp is an object of fishing and is widely bred in aquaculture.
When scientists just started studying crucian carp, they were faced with an inexplicable fact: in some reservoirs only female crucian lived. Where did the males go? Turns out they weren't there.
The fact is that crucian caviar, for obvious reasons, swept by a female, can be fertilized by males of other representatives of cyprinids (roach, tench, bream, carp, etc.). True fertilization does not occur between different biological species, however, such "cohabitation" is quite enough for the eggs to begin to develop. In this case, only females appear in the offspring. This phenomenon in biology is called gynogenesis.
Cooking carp
Carp are popular in the culinary of a large number of countries, including Russia. An experienced cook can make a real culinary masterpiece out of crucian carp, which, in general, is not surprising, since carp meat is tasty, tender and juicy.
Carp meat has one drawback - the smell of mud. However, getting rid of it is quite easy. Before cooking crucian carp, you need to clean and marinate for a couple of hours in a weak solution of vinegar. You can also add lemon juice to the marinade. A couple of hours - and there will be no trace of the smell. Additionally, this will help get rid of the smallest bones: they simply dissolve.
Carp can be cooked in any way: they can be boiled, fried, stewed, dried, smoked, etc. The national dish of Russian cuisine is carp baked in sour cream or milk.
Nutritional value of crucian carp (per 100 g)
| Calorie content, kcal | 87 |
| Proteins, g | 17,7 |
| Fats, g, including: | 1,8 |
| Saturated fatty acids, g | 0,4 |
| Cholesterol, mg | 50 |
| Water, g | 78,9 |
| Ash, g | 1,6 |
| Macronutrients | |
| Potassium, mg | 280 |
| Calcium, mg | 70 |
| Magnesium, mg | 25 |
| Sodium, mg | 50 |
| Phosphorus, mg | 220 |
| Chlorine, mg | 165 |
| Sulfur, mg | 177 |
| trace elements | |
| Iron, mg | 0,8 |
| Chromium, mcg | 55 |
| Fluorine, mcg | 430 |
| Molybdenum, mcg | 4 |
| Nickel, mcg | 6 |
| vitamins | |
| Vitamin A (retinol), mcg | 20 |
| Vitamin B1 (thiamine), mcg | 60 |
| Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), mcg | 170 |
| Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), mg | 1,0 |
| Vitamin E (tocopherol), mcg | 0,4 |
| Vitamin PP (nicotinic acid), mg | 2,1 |
| Vitamin PP (niacin equivalent), mg | 5,4 |
Useful properties of crucian
Carp meat contains high-quality protein, which is balanced in amino acid composition. There are especially many in it those amino acids that favorably affect the functioning of the nervous system. Therefore, without exaggeration, we can say that the one who eats crucian carp will become smarter, more balanced, more optimistic. Scientists have even found that if you eat at least one crucian dish every week, then after a few months, speech and visual-spatial abilities increase by an average of 6%.
Carp meat is recommended to be introduced into the diet of pregnant women, as this has a beneficial effect on the vision of the child. It's all about the substances that are part of the crucian fat and accelerate the development of the fetal nervous system. More precisely, we should talk about fatty acids, which are necessary for the growth of nerve cells. It should be borne in mind that these acids are found in sufficient quantities in women's milk, but scientists have not yet learned how to synthesize them in order to add them to artificial mixtures.
Carp has a low calorie content, which allows it to be included in the diet of those who want to lose weight. A high content of iron and vitamins A and E contributes to the rapid renewal of blood and skin. In addition, these vitamins are a powerful anti-cancer factor and strengthen the immune system.
