A CLOSER LOOK
How to recognize it
Called xianao or xiahuang in Chinese cooking, this is roe tissue from the head region, not the literal brain. Cooked pieces are small and orange-red; they differ from the tiny eggs carried beneath the abdomen.
In the kitchen
Cooked with peeled shrimp meat and shrimp eggs as the three-part topping for Suzhou noodles. It adds a rich flavor and soft texture.
Color and firmness depend on the shrimp and preparation. This ingredient is not fermented shrimp paste or crayfish head contents. Contains shrimp; cook before eating.
Ask about this ingredient
这道菜里有河虾虾脑吗？
Does this dish contain Xianao — rich tissue from shrimp heads?
A few dishes to explore
These examples use this ingredient in typical or optional preparations. Open the dish to see the distinction; a restaurant’s recipe can differ.
