Papua has many specialties that can keep blowing tourists’ minds. One of the most famous is cheating prawns (udang selingkuh).
Not only is the name unique, but the taste of this Papua food will stick in your head even after you’ve left one of Indonesia’s proud regions. Let’s find some interesting facts about these prawns in the explanation below!
What is Cheating Prawns?
Cheating prawns are freshwater prawns from the Baliem River, Papua. This food is famous in Wamena, Papua, and is a must-try when visiting there. So, what are the specials of this prawn?
1. First Discoverd in 1961
The first discoverer of this shrimp was a team of researchers from the Archaeology Center. They found it in Togece Kampung Cave, Jayawijaya, Papua. Then in 1961, a senior guide spread the seeds in the Baliem River. So since then, the population has grown rapidly and become a specialty of Papua.
Currently, the farms are extensive in Lake Tage, Lake Paniai, and Lake Tigi. However, you still have to pay attention to the season when you want to get this shrimp.
That’s because no specialized farm always handles restaurant demand, and the cultivation is still on a small and medium scale.
The texture of this cheating prawn is a bit different from most prawns. When chewed, you will feel its fibrous and tender texture. The flavor is quite similar to lobster and is slightly sweet. You can eat the meat all over the body and inside the claws, except for the head.
2. It Has a Unique Shape
Then, there is one reason that makes this Papua traditional food famous besides its flavor and texture: the physicality of the shrimp.
The shape of this shrimp is camouflaged, as it looks like a shrimp and a crab at the same time. If you look at the back and head, it looks 100% like a shrimp. But if you look at it from the front, you might get confused.
It looks similar to a crab because of its large and long front legs and the presence of crab-like claws. When cooked, the bluish-colored claws will turn orange.
This is probably why the locals call them cheating prawns, as it is considered an affair between crabs and prawns. But, of course, this is just a joke.
Cheating Prawns are Suitable for Dieting
The nutrients contained in these prawns are numerous and good for your body. Some of them are high in protein, calcium, and minerals.
The unsaturated fat content can help maintain your health to be more excellent. Also, the food from Papua is very low-calorie, making it suitable for your diet program. The calorie content in 100 grams of shrimp meat is around 160 calories only!
So, when you visit Papua and are on a diet program, don’t forget to add this cheating prawn to your culinary list.
Menus from Cheating Prawns
There are various options for preparing this food, ranging from simple ways to preparations with lots of spices.
If you want to experience the natural and distinctive flavor of the prawns, you can order them boiled or grilled with a bit of seasoning. With these preparations, you can taste the authentic sweetness of cheating shrimp.
However, as the variety of food grows, the restaurant also provides various flavor options. You can order prawns with black pepper sauce, oyster sauce, sweet and sour sauce, and Padang sauce.
The price per portion starts from 20 to 50 USD, which is quite expensive for shrimp. However, this adjusts to the limited supply and high interest of buyers.
If you are visiting Papua, especially Wamena, then including cheating prawns in your list of Papuan foods to try is the right thing to do.
