Don crayfish

Rostov's main delicacy is the crayfish from the cold, clear and swift waters of the Manych River, a tributary of the Don, with their meat sweeter than in other varieties. In fact, any stanitsa on the road from Rostov to Krasnodar will invite you to join in the noble local tradition of sitting down for a bowl of crayfish. In terms of the dish size, less than a small basin won’t do since eating crayfish is not so much a meal as a group cultural event. Still, the quality of the product (as well as of the company) is important. Experts say that larger crayfish are not worth buying because they have little meat. Don crayfish are medium in size and, unlike, for example, Volga crayfish, have a darker shell. When cooked, they turn dark red, not orange. In the classic Rostov style of crayfish cooking, a piece of butter should be added to the salted boiling water before throwing in fresh crayfish.