From the Tropics: Caterpillar Cuisine 
I have told you about -exotic, alternative recipes- but this is all about alternative nutrition -- very alternative to most of you. If it grosses you out, just read the health notes. Otherwise, who knows, you may broaden your horizons a bit, and some day you might need to know that "many parts are edible" when you see that locust land on your nose! 
You'd be surprised how many thousands of different insects are not only edible but quite delicious. I'm not talking about chocolate-covered this and chocolate-covered that --- that would be weeviling out, in fact, it would be a gastronomical abomination. And speaking of weeviling, weevil grubs (worm-like babies, or larvae) are savoy and succulent when deep fried. Many of the adult insects are not edible (too much armor plate, toxins or just plain obnoxious taste) but their babies (grubs) are profoundly piquant. (Most insects don't care about their babies. In fact, they eat them if you don't get there first.)
Take the beetle, for instance. You wouldn't want to eat dad or mom but their grubs are pure epicurean ecstasy!
There could be a revolution in animal husbandry if we can develop efficient methods of harvesting and, even more important, actually growing more of the right bugs. Crickets, for instance, make a great meal for chickens and it's as good as expensive soybean meal.
Taylor and Carter, in their book on insect cookery, suggest tempura cricket, cricket pot pie, cricket crisps, and jumping jubilee (over flaming brandy). You should try crickets. They are a lot better for you than those potato chips you've been eating. Bet you'll positively chirp with delight.
Really, though, I'm not crazy enough to think you'll all run out to the backyard after you read this post, grab a few bugs and pop them into the oven. But you should know that insects are a good source of protein if you ever get into an emergency situation, such as being lost in the mountains or surviving an airplane crash in the boondocks somewhere. You should also know that, in many cultures, just because everyone doesn't have a cow in the backyard and a chicken in every pot doesn't mean they are deprived. They probably enjoy their locusts as much as you like your steak. Next time you go to one of these cultures, try a few bugs. And if you are watching your figure, just ask for a bug lite.
Have a delicious weekend and a big hug!
Melissa
Do not forget to visit Tasty Recipes - Chef Melissa's online cookbook!
Tags: cookingdiva, chef, panama, caterpillar cuisine
- by Chef Melissa
- January 20, 2007
- 3:22 pm
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Comments
01.21.07 at 06:07 AM |
wow! I think I would definetly NOT be able to eat something like that… maaaaaaybe if they wouldn’t tell me before but…. yikes anyway!
——-
01.21.07 at 10:26 AM |
I know…yikes! My first encounter with bug cuisine was in Cambodia long time ago and to tell you the truth, it didn’t cross my mind to try one of those multi legged snacks. BUT, then I went to Mexico and South America and I tried some crispy ones. If I am not wrong, I was hungry then and intrigued by the yummyness of those creatures.
01.21.07 at 02:47 PM |
yo no los como. Pero he visto demostraciones impresionantes.
Montse Guillen estuvo aqui con sus insectos y está en Miami en TransEat. Vale la pena verlos.
01.21.07 at 02:48 PM |
En Miami, wow—-te escribo para que me des los detalles! Un abrazo,
M
01.21.07 at 11:28 PM |
Hi Melissa,
Do you really like eating this stuff?
Here in Australia the indigenous peoples are famous for eating Witchity grubs (very long and slimy-found in tree bark-you can slurp them down raw (some are a couple feet long) or Barbeque them-MMMMmm tastes like chicken? They als eat a huge moth at a certain time of the year (when they proliferate)-called Bogong Moths. I’m yet to join the feast…
Awhile back you helped me out by doing one of my blogging questionnaires-Could you give me a hand again?
For those who love to blog,
I have just written a short questionnaire asking bloggers ‘‘How do YOU get people to come and visit YOUR blog?’ at this post: http://www.blogspoke.com/page/blogspoke?entry=how_do_you_get_people
The first survey I did got some interesting responses from both popular and amateur bloggers alike. Come and check this one out. If relating to others or growing your site traffic is a priority; or if you feel lonely because you haven’t received much attention in your blogging career-you might just find out something worthwhile! I could definitely use some of your advice/opinions/thoughts/feelings on the matter to enrich my own blogging experience.
Loving the Blogosphere,
Jesse S. Somer
01.23.07 at 06:15 PM |
I’ve tried Grasshoppers, not chocolate covered, they go down smoother if you clip off the wings and legs. Haven’t tried “grubs” pero, I’ve heard they have a nutty.
I’m one that’ll try anything.
01.24.07 at 07:50 PM |
Oh, wow!
Paz
01.25.07 at 01:34 AM |
I was kind of going “Oh yuck” when I realized I had eaten the above mentioned witchetty grubs - live! They taste sort of peanutty. And bogong moths too which are a little sweet. I’m not sure I have ever heard of a two foot long witchetty grub though and they’re not slimy….until you bite one at least.
06.04.07 at 06:53 PM |
Are the legs as edible as the rest of the catepillar, because I think that would add a high cost to the menu; being a la carte?
06.05.07 at 11:20 AM |
LOL. No caterpillar legs a la carte for me! Thanks for your comments
05.10.08 at 10:35 AM |
I love your turns of phrases, ma’am!
Great read.
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