Gammarus pulex edibility

[lipase]

I was amazed to find Gammarus pulex in a tiny stream that I imagine completely froze up over winter with no possible access from downstream. It's the sort of stream that will probably completely dry up at times during summer too. I'm actually amazed...

Anyway, I was wondering about the edibility of Gammerus pulex. I was also wondering what their exoskeleton is made of and whether that would affect their edibility; I had the thought that shrimps and prawns may have a similar exoskeleton to Gammarus and that it's removed (during preparation) mainly due to it's lack of taste, it's 'shielding' of the tasty inner meat and it's potential to cause minor injury to the mouth when chewed.

I hope this thread doesn't offend anyone; there don't seem to be too many edibility threads around.

[Mark Burgess]

Hi Lipase

I’ve been served them in France; there’s very little to them, just a bit of crunchiness, like whitebait, and a lot of garlic.

bon appetit

[lipase]

Hi Mark,
Looks like I might be best cooking up a lot of them for a healthy-sized meal then. I think I might try a cross between a stir-fry and a curry with the main bulk being made up of gammerus to go along with some rice. Thanks for saying about your experience...

Jack

[Johnny Redgate]

Originally Posted by Mark Burgess

Hi Lipase

I’ve been served them in France; there’s very little to them, just a bit of crunchiness, like whitebait, and a lot of garlic.

bon appetit

Blimey, they did have a serious famine in France at some time ....frogs, snails ....You'd have to be seriously hungry to bother with Gammarus

[The Woodman]

I recalled the G.pulex often carries parasitic loads. On checking tinterweb I came across a 2000 study paper from Parasitology where the French authors stated that two parasites often found in Gp preferred hosts are fish or bird.

No worries there then!

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Johnny Redgate

Blimey, they did have a serious famine in France at some time ....frogs, snails ....You'd have to be seriously hungry to bother with Gammarus

Escargot: French for crawling bag of phlegm.

(Dave Barry. Goggle him - there's loads of hilarious quotes.)

Jim

[Mark Burgess]

Hi Jack

I’m pretty sure these were stir-fried – they looked as if they had been fried quickly in a hot pan with garlic butter. I suspect Gammarus would be the ideal slimmer’s diet because you would use more calories eating them than you would ever recover. The restaurant was in Couhé, about 30km from Poitiers. Can’t remember the name, but it was one of those French restaurants where you eat what you’re given. Perhaps shouldn’t mention it on this forum, but the duck was magnificent.

best,

Mark

[McCruiskeen]

If it's the texture you're after then why not fry and try members of the Oniscidae? Or if one's gastronomic preferences tend towards the aquatic, then members the Ligiidae offer distinct culinary possibilities. Come on guys - let's not be faint-hearted here!
For the adventurous bon viveur, excellent recipes can be found at:http://www.porcellio.scaber.org/woodlice/recipes.htm. A good Muscadet would be the accompanying wine of choice, I think.
And why stop here? We are only restricted by our imaginations. Think of the undreamed delights that may await us - haemolymph soup, snail egg puree - I could go on!

[lipase]

Originally Posted by McCruiskeen

If it's the texture you're after then why not fry and try members of the Oniscidae? Or if one's gastronomic preferences tend towards the aquatic, then members the Ligiidae offer distinct culinary possibilities. Come on guys - let's not be faint-hearted here!
For the adventurous bon viveur, excellent recipes can be found at:Woodlouse Recipes. A good Muscadet would be the accompanying wine of choice, I think.
And why stop here? We are only restricted by our imaginations. Think of the undreamed delights that may await us - haemolymph soup, snail egg puree - I could go on!

haemolymph soup ?! I've considered Asellus aquaticus and woodlice had crossed my mind but I didn't think woodlice would be nice to chew. I guess I was wrong... I will have to try.

Anyone know of any entomophagy forums or 'eating obscure/unusual crustacea' forums I could join; I've been vaguely looking out for any over the last few months with no luck.

Mark,
Perhaps you're right that they aren't positive calories. It's a shame really because they breed like crazy, I could imagine them being very productive to farm.

Jack