SushiUniversity®

Female Snow crab (Zuwaigani)

【Nigiri sushi: Ebi/Kani】
Female snow crabs are called “Sekogani (Seikogani)”, “Kobakogani”, ‘Oyagani’, “Koppe”, etc., depending on the region.The female snow crab's shell holds abundant orange-colored immature eggs called “Uchiko,” a dark brown organ known as the ‘Kanimiso’ (liver-pancreas and midgut gland), and brown granular eggs called “Sotoko” in its abdomen.

Female crabs are typically served as “kouramori”, where the shell holds the crab meat, crab miso, inner roe, and outer roe. Alternatively, they are commonly used in gunkan-maki. Some high-end restaurants mix the meat, crab paste, inner roe, and outer roe together and form it into a ball-shaped nigiri sushi.