Yin Yang fish

Yin yang fish (Chinese: 陰陽魚, 糖醋活魚, 呼叫魚; also called dead-and-alive fish) is a Taiwanese dish where a live fish is fried whole. The dish originates from Chiayi, Taiwan.[1][2]

Preparation

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).[2][3][4][5]

Controversy

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.[6] Following public outcry, the dish was subsequently removed from the menu and banned in Taiwan.[7][2]

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".[8] A video posted on TikTok in March 2020 had been viewed three million times as of May 2021.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Eat or Run? Would You Eat This Controversial Dish That is Both Dead and Alive?". look up tv. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  2. ^ a b c "Yin and Yang Fish – A Controversial Dish That's Both Dead and Alive". www.odditycentral.com. 2021-05-04. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  3. ^ "Why Do Fish Still Move After Being Gutted". 2023-02-18.
  4. ^ (Traditional Chinese) "陰陽魚活炸上菜 「殘忍」". Apple Daily (Taiwan). July 9, 2007. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  5. ^ "Chefs refuse to serve 'dead-and-alive fish' - the China Post". Archived from the original on 2014-06-06. Retrieved 2009-11-27.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Lok-sin, Loa (9 July 2007). "Restaurant owner heavily criticized for serving live fish". Taipei Times.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "Video: Yin and Yang Fish - A Controversial Dish That's Both Dead and Alive?". odditycentral.com. 4 May 2021.


Stub icon

This Taiwanese cuisine-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.