Fish
Grass Carp
B tier
Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) is a large herbivorous Chinese carp raised in polyculture for its leaner, milder flesh compared with common carp. It feeds on aquatic plants, which often yields a cleaner taste when ponds are well managed. Bones remain plentiful; fillets and steaks need careful pin-bone work. Steam whole with ginger and spring onion, braise in soy-based sauces, or fry steaks after scoring. Avoid muddy holding water before harvest. Grass carp is a workhorse of Asian aquaculture and increasingly appears in Western ethnic markets as fresh whole fish.
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Characteristics
Preparations
Traits
History
Grass carp joined Chinese four-carp polyculture as a plant-eating pond species.
International introductions used grass carp for weed control and later table fish.
Export and domestic demand kept grass carp among top global aquaculture tonnages.