Fresh Shellfish, What Will You Have For Dinner?
Wild varieties are equally delicious. Clams are a very popular addition to pasta dishes. Hard clams, also called quahogs, live in sandy coves and can be caught when the tide is low.Fresh shellfish is a wonderful thing to eat all year round. It includes clams, scallops, mussels and more. Farm-raised cultured mussels are fresh and readily available. A great dish to enjoy with butter and garlic is stuffed quahogs. And, of course, there is always clam chowder!
In the summer, fresh shellfish will take your mind off the hot weather. For a light yet delicious meal, consider an appetizer of raw or barbequed oysters. These tasty treats can be bought in most markets as well as chosen farms that specially breed them to sell. If you are lucky enough to live by a port or in a town near the ocean, you will probably find oysters easily and for an affordable cost.
Sea scallops are delightfully large, though must be shucked (removed from their shells) almost immediately after capture to ensure they don't lose moisture and die.It is important not to overcook scallops, or you will end up with a chewy, inedible morsel.Scallops are meatier than clams and require very little preparation.
When looking for shellfish, don't overlook the mussel. Known for their blue-black shells and orange colored meat, these little guys are full of good protein! Keep in mind that they taste best steamed, but can be added to many dishes. They need to remain in their shells until they are cooked.
Lobster and crab are included in the category of other fresh shell fish. Compared to the all other shell fish both of then are bigger and more substantial. In every type of cuisine they are used for their taste and as a symbol of excellence. The most expensive of all fresh shell fish is the lobster. It is the cuisine favorite in all fancy and high end restaurants
Crab is maybe the most popular shellfish and is widely bought and eaten. The crabbing industry is a multi-million dollar one. While eating crab can be messy and often difficult, special tools have been created to make cracking crab easier. Once you get down to the meaty goodness of crab legs, you will want to make this fresh shellfish part of your everyday meal planning.
Clams are a popular addition to pasta dishes and quahogs, a type of hard clams, can be enjoyed with butter and garlic. Raw or barbequed oysters make a delicious appetizer. Scallops are larger and meatier than clams and need little preparation for cooking. The orange colored meat of cultured mussels is full of protein and taste best if steamed. Unlike scallops, they should remain in their shells till they are cooked. Bigger and more substantial than any other shellfish are the crabs and lobsters, used in many types of cuisine with the latter being most expensive of all fresh shellfish.
Published July 24th, 2007
Filed in Family, Recreation
