Entomophagy

I was straightening the books in a bookcase and came across this neat book on entomophagy. Yes, that is the term for the eating of insects. I have conducted several workshops for teachers dealing with the topic of insects as food. When I taught entomology, I usually got the students involved by having them to prepare insect appetizers.

In our culture it is an unbelievable thought to fry up a grub or eat crickets. However, that is not so in many parts of the world. Numerous insects are cleaner than many of the animals that man regularly eats and there are no special religious prohibition against the eating of insects. Certain insects are relished and regarded as delicacies by civilized as well as primitive societies. Insects are clearly a nutritious source of human food.
My students learned that the most popular edible insects are; beetles, butterflies and moths; bees, wasps, and ants; grasshoppers, crickets, and locusts; flies and mosquitoes; stink bugs, water boatmen and backswimmers. Many of these are eaten in the larval form.

You folks may have seen the red agave (butterfly larva) worm that is placed in some brands of tequila. Gourmet restaurants in Mexico City serve high priced entrees of agave worms. The white agave worm is one of the most sought after of all edible insects and very expensive. These caterpillars can reach lengths of four inches and around 2/3 of an inch in width.

Each insect has a distinct flavor. Ants are sweet and almost nutty. Wasps remind one of pine nuts and leaf footed bugs taste like very sweet pumpkin. Crickets and grasshoppers are much like tofu. They are mild and absorb the flavors of the surrounding flavors. They list continues with; termites tasting nutty, stinkbugs very apple-like, and corn earworms actually taste like corn on the cob!

At a public event, Julia Child, the famous French chef (who died last year at the age of 91), was once asked what was her favorite meal. Instantly, she reeled off the menu of a seven-course feast. Asked how anyone could eat all that, Child said, "You don't. But, you taste everything."

In the adventurous spirit of Julia, I am including a simple and tasty recipe that you can use to impress your friends when they come over for supper.

Hot Mealworm Appetizers
Ingredients:
· 5 ml (1 tsp.) cayenne
· 2.5 ml (1/2 tsp.) black pepper
· 85 ml (1/3 cup) mealworm larvae, slightly thawed
· 30 ml (2 Tbsp.) butter or margarine

Place all ingredients together into a saucepan. Sauté, stirring constantly, until the mealworms are golden brown. Drain and serve.

Or, these may be added to a hot bridge mix available in many grocery stores. Or, one may add them to 'Party Mix' made from cold cereal squares, pretzels and nuts. The combination made at home to which one could add the mealworms for extra nutrition, fiber, and interesting texture is as follows:

Melt 1/4-cup margarine in roasting pan in preheated 250(F oven. Stir in 5-tsp. Worcestershire sauce, l_l/4 tsp. seasoned salt, 1/4 tsp. Garlic powder. Gradually add: cereals (2_2/3 cup corn squares, 2_2/3 cup rice squares, 2_2/3 cup wheat squares); 1 cup nuts and 1 cup pretzels. Stir to coat evenly. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on absorbent paper to cool. Store in airtight container. Makes 10 cups.