Authentic Italian Cooking

Crustaceans

Who does not like crustaceans? all or almost all love them. From here to know how to cook, serve and eat on formal occasions ... I'm smiling. Why? Read more below ... Anyway the first tip I want to share with you is to cook them as little as possible, just few seconds or minutes! In any case, read individual recipes!

  • Orange-flavored prawns
  • Raw prawns dressed with olive oil and lemon juice
  • Green bean and prawn salad
  • Prawn and mango salad
  • Mantis shrimp (Squilla mantis) stew

    Crustaceans (lobster, shrimps, prawns, mantis prawn ...)

    In my life I have seen everything about crustaceans.

    • - To serve crustaceans in their whole shell without the tools to open them. If you're lucky, a waiter will place next to you a mini bowl in which you, victim, should wash your hands or better your fingertips given the size, when you have your arms greasy up to the elbow!
    • - To confuse crustaceans with shellfish ...
    • - To sit down at the restaurant and be wrapped in a big bib (?). And then you do not know whether to thank for saving your shirt or curse the moment you have chosen a restaurant where the kitchen staff doesn't know how to serve shelled crustaceans with its empty shell on the platter as decoration.

    Well, these pages have the aim to be a short guide not to make a bad impression with your guests serving crustaceans from all points of view: service and goodness of your food. Besides there are some mouth-watering recipes taken from Italian tradition or of my own creation!

    Crustacean recipes

    Green bean & prawn salad

    Green bean & prawn salad

    It's a tasty dish to serve warm or cold according to the season. I use to marinate prawns to use less olive oil.

    Mantis shrimp (Squilla mantis) stew

    Mantis shrimp (Squilla mantis) stew

    This is the traditional recipe made along Adriatic sea. I learnt it from my paternal grandmother who lived in Pescara (Abruzzo). Easy-to-do recipe for your family menu not for formal occasions. Go to the page to know the reason why ...

    Orange-flavored prawns

    Orange-flavored prawns

    Do you know how much fantastic prawns are if combined with fruit? I like prawns and oranges very much. This is a recipe my guests are very fond of!

    Prawn and mango salad

    Prawn and mango salad

    It's a cold dish, ideal for summer get-togethers and formal occasions too. This exotic recipe tastes fantastic. I have never been able to have some leftovers ... my guests always eat everything, lick the plate, I dare say ;))

    Raw prawns dressed with olive oil and lemon juice

    Raw prawns dressed with olive oil and lemon juice

    Prawns can be eaten raw only if you have the guarantee that they are fresh and come from unpolluted waters. A rarity nowadays but in some Italian seaside you still can do. Don't forget to check the index of sea pollution in the place where you are and if you have any doubt blanch them at least for a moment before seasoning.