Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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So I've been doing my version of paleo for a couple of months now, and have been adding stuff to my diet that I never ate before either because I didn't like it or thought it was unhealthy. I now really like steak, eggs, good bacon, etc. I'd like to add shellfish, but again I've always been grossed out by all forms -- I mean, they are invertebrates. However, at the beginning of September, I was grossed out by ground beef, and last night I made kick-ass burgers and loved every juicy bite.

Shellfish consumers: What's a good one to start with if you are a little mollusk- and/or crustacean-shy? Any of those little critters milder-flavored and/or less slimy than others? Any good recipes and/or prep tips?

ETA: by "shellfish" I really mean anything with a shell or an exoskeleton -- clams & mussels & their ilk, yes, but also shrimp, crabs, crawdads, etc. (Though crustaceans have the added gross-factor of looking like insects.)

edited Nov 17 2011 at 20:37

asked Nov 17 2011 at 1:35

goodgravymissmaisy
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you must like shrimp. I refuse to believe anyone does not like shrimp... and crab. I also always enjoyed fried clam as a kid. haven't had it lately, but now I'm thinking about it. maybe battered in coconut flour and pan fried in butter or lard. mmmmmm – APC Nov 17 2011 at 2:29

I second APC - shrimp, or preferably prawns, are very user-friendly. Yes to prawns + coconut, a winning combination. I also LOVE LOVE LOVE scallops but they are a bit slimier and pricier. Also they can be hard to prepare properly (overdone scallops turn to rubber). Maybe the next time you're in a nice restaurant, order them to see how great they can be. Scallops seared in butter... heaven. – Renee Nov 17 2011 at 2:46

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This shrimp recipe is darn tasty and super easy: marksdailyapple.com/creamy-macadamia-shrimp – Phoenix Nov 17 2011 at 3:42

tasty as the are, shrimp and crab aren't mollusks.... – thhq Nov 17 2011 at 18:09

But they are shellfish, no? The question is "intro to shellfish". – Phoenix Nov 17 2011 at 18:46

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Aughra · Answer 1 · 2011-11-17 04:37:21Z UTC

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I think the easiest shellfish are scallops seared in ghee an sprinkled with some fresh parsley or tarragon. Sweet and taste like the ocean. Get them fresh not frozen if you don't want a fishy taste.

answered Nov 17 2011 at 4:37

Aughra
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	I second the scallops. Very lightly cooked (or raw) squid and octopus are good too. – thhq Nov 17 2011 at 18:06
	Thanks! Scallops don't seem terribly slimy either. I don't think I am ready to eat something with tentacles, though. – goodgravymissmaisy Nov 17 2011 at 20:42

panteleimon · Answer 2 · 2011-11-17 17:39:47Z UTC

I grew up in an English fishing community and little cockles, winkles and mussels cooked in vinegar and served on tiny china plates were real treats.

Crustaceans are delicious - prawns (shrimp) and crab are affordable (at least here in the UK). Lobster is not the cheapest but has a nice, meaty texture, has a wonderful affinity with melted butter and is less fiddly to eat than smaller crustaceans. They all taste a little bit sweet. Fresh is best, but they are all good frozen.

Molluscs really are best freshly caught - I wouldn't bother with them unless you are sure they are very fresh. Frozen or tinned just don't work, to my mind, as the textures change too much. Oysters might not be a good place for a beginner to start but to my mind they taste of the sea and are heavenly. Mussels have quite a meaty taste and go well with cream, shallots and parsley (with a drop of cider when we are in Normandy).

air_hadoken · Answer 3 · 2011-11-17 19:29:48Z UTC

I would go in this order, to get you used to the tastes and the fact that these are progressively less recognizable as animals:

Shrimp fried
Shrimp as cocktail (because they are just so good.)
Lobster, steamed whole
Crab, steamed whole (similar to lobster, with meat in the shells and claws)
Squid, fried.
Mussels, steamed (absorb flavors well when steamed, so you will recognize white wine and garlic, or pomodoro in the flavor. plus you can scoop the sauce with shells)
Clams, steamed (clams have a bit stronger flavor/meatiness)
Clams, fried whole (with bellies)
Scallops (look like marshmallows, but taste like heaven)
Oysters, raw (you will be ready for these by this point)

I'm not really a fan of cooked oysters except in oyster stew, but at this point you may want to try them.

Then finally you can go for the really exotic stuff, like sea urchin.

Bread-Eating Beelzebub · Answer 4 · 2011-11-17 03:33:24Z UTC

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I grew up with an intense aversion to shellfish, but was won over by shrimp and crab in my early twenties. I love love love shrimp battered with egg yolk, dipped in coconut flour and spices, then crisped in ghee. I eat shellfish I find unpleasant too though like oysters, but swallow them down with wine.

answered Nov 17 2011 at 3:33

Bread-Eating Beelzebub
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Thanks, Melissa -- anything crisped in ghee sounds pretty delicious, I've gotta say. – goodgravymissmaisy Nov 17 2011 at 20:47

intro to shellfish?

4 Answers