Rough Introduction:
Crab Roe Soup Dumplings are the premium version of Changzhou’s soup dumplings, famous for their thin skin, ample filling, abundant broth, and distinctive crab aroma. Their top is pinched into a “carp’s mouth” shape. After steaming, they are filled with a rich, flavorful soup. The proper way to eat them is to first carefully sip the savory broth with crab roe before consuming the rest, offering a superb experience.

The Essence & Form: This is the upgraded, premier version of Changzhou’s soup dumplings. Its essence lies in the “crab.” The filling uses fresh pork, crucially mixed with meticulously prepared crab oil and solid crab roe/orange crab butter. The wrapper, made from semi-leavened dough, is rolled extremely thin yet remains resilient. The top is pinched into a distinct “carp’s mouth” shape. This design is not only aesthetic but also functional, preventing the skin from bursting due to steam pressure from the abundant soup inside during cooking.
Flavor & Experience: After steaming, the dumpling skin is thin and translucent, vaguely revealing the golden crab oil inside. Gently lifting one, the plump dumpling droops immediately, showcasing the generous amount of soup. The authentic way to eat it follows a 12-character mantra: “Lift gently, move slowly, open a window, then sip the soup.” This means using chopsticks to lift it delicately, carefully moving it to a vinegar dish, biting a small hole in the side (opening a window), and first sipping the scalding hot broth that concentrates the essence of pork and the ultimate umami of crab, instantly filling your mouth with aroma. Then, dip it in the accompanying shredded ginger and aromatic vinegar to enjoy the skin and filling. The richness of the crab oil and the granular texture of the crab roe blend perfectly with the savory pork, creating an immensely complex layers of texture and flavor.
Seasonality: The most authentic Crab Roe Soup Dumplings emphasize using the richest hairy crab in autumn to make the crab oil, making autumn the best season to savor them.