INSECTS AS FOOD
Insects are high in protein [some 70% compared to 15% for beef]. They may be cooked & eaten "as is" [roasted, candied, or fried in garlic butter]; they may be ground into flour for baking in breads & biscuits; or gently boiled, marinated, smoked, grilled or fried & added to pates, dips, pizza, burgers, nut butters, dukka, salads, spreads, soups, pasta etc; or prepared as tempura, in aspic, pickled, added to sauces, covered in chocolate, frozen into popsicles, or added to toffee & granola bars. When roasted & salted they make great snacks with beer - cheers!
*see below for info on mealworms, crickets, huhu grubs [coming], bees [coming], snails [coming], & earthworms [coming]
*see below for info on mealworms, crickets, huhu grubs [coming], bees [coming], snails [coming], & earthworms [coming]
Mealworms
Mealworms are the larval stage of the beetle, Tenebrio molitor, they offer the natural nutrition many different aquatic amphibians and reptiles require, providing a high source of protein and essential amino acids. Mealworms are typically used as a food source for reptile fish & avian pets. They are also commonly used for fishing bait. The larvae & pupae make a highly nutritious human food.
These insects can easily be grown in small containers in the home - they eat bran meal & a little apple.
Max Fat 25.28%
Min Protein 46.64%
Max Fibre 6.74%
Cleaning & Preparation - separate live larvae from the bran, wash gently in a sieve in cold water, pat dry. They may now be cooked or frozen for later use.Cooking - see above
These insects can easily be grown in small containers in the home - they eat bran meal & a little apple.
Max Fat 25.28%
Min Protein 46.64%
Max Fibre 6.74%
Cleaning & Preparation - separate live larvae from the bran, wash gently in a sieve in cold water, pat dry. They may now be cooked or frozen for later use.Cooking - see above
Crickets & Cicadas
Crickets may be bred or captured at night with nets as they fly around lights. The intestinal tract may be cleansed, & the insects flavoured, by feeding them with apple for a few days. Before washing, they can be refrigerated to slow their movements.
Cooking - After dry roasting or pan frying, legs & wings may be removed - however if the insects have been deep-fried they are entirely edible, crunchy with a soft inner. Females fat with eggs are especially tasty.
I am looking into the possibilities of grinding the abandoned cicada carapaces found on trees & fences in the hot NZ summer for use as flour or condiments, or serving them in small aspic moulds as tapas or canapes - a far cry from the chipolatas on toothpicks a la 1970!
Cooking - After dry roasting or pan frying, legs & wings may be removed - however if the insects have been deep-fried they are entirely edible, crunchy with a soft inner. Females fat with eggs are especially tasty.
I am looking into the possibilities of grinding the abandoned cicada carapaces found on trees & fences in the hot NZ summer for use as flour or condiments, or serving them in small aspic moulds as tapas or canapes - a far cry from the chipolatas on toothpicks a la 1970!
Huhu Grubs
Huhu grubs are the larvae of the New Zealand Huhu Beetle the largest of the Longhorn Beetles (Cerambycidae). They are large & fleshy feed on dead wood - native trees & pines. About half the size of little finger they look like a large maggot. Opinions vary as to whether the black head & the skin are edible - I guess it depends on how the insect has been prepared - alive, cooked, or pickled.
As usual a safe bet is to either fry them in butter & garlic, smoke them, or serve them with beer - grilled & salted.
As usual a safe bet is to either fry them in butter & garlic, smoke them, or serve them with beer - grilled & salted.
Bees
Bees are tasty & nutritious in the adult, larvae, or pupae stages. Adult bees have no crunchy cuticle - unlike some other insects eaten as food. Bee pupae contain 18% protein & are rich sources of vitamins A & D, they have a creamy taste, & make a perfect cocktail savory when fried & served salted with a dusting of paprika. Also very good as a pate.
Bee catchers who capture wild swarms, usually discard any larvae or pupae from their catch - so here is a possible "sustainable" source of this insect.
As bees in NZ are under threat from spraying, urbanization & the verroa mite - I would not recommend eating them unless under extenuating circumstances. Then they can be killed by freezing for 1/2 hour. Wash welling several changes of water, wearing thick rubber gloves [as dead bees can still sting]. Pat dry with a paper towel, then fry with chopped onion, tomato paste, herbs, red wine & salt & pepper.
Bee Grubs in Coconut Cream
50 bee larvae
1 small onion chopped fine
juice of 1 lemon
6 citrus leaves
1 cup coconut cream
- Marinate grubs in lemon juice, onion & citrus leaves for 2 hours. Gently fry in oil. Add coconut milk & bring to simmer. Serve with rice or noodles.
Bee catchers who capture wild swarms, usually discard any larvae or pupae from their catch - so here is a possible "sustainable" source of this insect.
As bees in NZ are under threat from spraying, urbanization & the verroa mite - I would not recommend eating them unless under extenuating circumstances. Then they can be killed by freezing for 1/2 hour. Wash welling several changes of water, wearing thick rubber gloves [as dead bees can still sting]. Pat dry with a paper towel, then fry with chopped onion, tomato paste, herbs, red wine & salt & pepper.
Bee Grubs in Coconut Cream
50 bee larvae
1 small onion chopped fine
juice of 1 lemon
6 citrus leaves
1 cup coconut cream
- Marinate grubs in lemon juice, onion & citrus leaves for 2 hours. Gently fry in oil. Add coconut milk & bring to simmer. Serve with rice or noodles.
Snails
Common garden snails in NZ can be eaten - just catch them, keep them in a sealed container with airholes & feed them on bran for a week to clean out their intestines.
Brown garden snail:
Cantareus aspersus (Müller)
Class : Gastropoda
Order: Pulmonata
Family: Helicidae
Cooking: boil them in water, pick them out of the shells with a pin. Remove the black tail, pat dry - fry in butter & garlic.
Brown garden snail:
Cantareus aspersus (Müller)
Class : Gastropoda
Order: Pulmonata
Family: Helicidae
Cooking: boil them in water, pick them out of the shells with a pin. Remove the black tail, pat dry - fry in butter & garlic.