Dragon Clouds

Dragon Clouds are a very popular appetizer in Asian cuisines, particularly Chinese ones. They are essentially strips of fish skin that are fried and become very light and crispy, similar to clouds, hence the name. Here is a basic recipe for preparing Dragon Clouds:

Ingredients

• 100 g of fish skin (usually cod or other white fish)
• Peanut or sesame seed oil for frying
• Salt, to taste

Preparation

1. Start by cleaning the fish skin, making sure to remove all the scales. It is important to use good quality skins, preferably without too many flesh residues attached.
2. Cut the skin into thin strips of about 2-3 cm in width. They do not have to be perfectly equal.
3. Heat enough oil in a deep pan or a deep fryer. The oil is ready when it has reached a temperature of about 180 °C.
4. Fry the fish skin strips in batches until they puff up and become light and crispy. This process should only take a few seconds for each strip.
5. Once the strips have turned golden in color and have a soft texture, remove them from the oil and let them drain on paper towels.
6. Lightly salt them while they are still warm, if desired.

Dragon Clouds are great as a snack to nibble on or as an accompaniment to a cold beer or an aperitif. If you wish to add an even more Italian touch to this Asian dish, you might sprinkle the Dragon Clouds with some finely chopped rosemary after frying, for an aroma that recalls Mediterranean herbs.

Curiosity

Dragon Clouds are a typical example of how food scraps can be transformed into something delicious. In many dishes of Asian cuisine, fish skin is often used with this technique to avoid waste, promoting an ethical and sustainable approach to cooking.