Simple tips to cook Grasshoppers by David Gordon Fried

Countries especially in the eastern part of the world include insects as a part of their daily diet. Among the various types of insects that are commonly consumed, grasshoppers are the most popular one as they provide outstanding protein and necessary vitamins while containing insignificant amounts of fats and cholesterol. Grasshoppers are in fact considered as a delicacy in several countries and are served as deep fried snack or with chocolate toppings. Moreover consuming grasshoppers is environmentally beneficial, since insects are nowhere near extinction.

David Gordon Fried shares some interesting recipes about grasshoppers

Grasshoppers are safe to eat and are certainly healthy, nutritious and delicious. They are also considered as an appropriate alternate to beef, chicken, meat, fish and birds. But it is very important to cook them appropriately first before eating. Cooking the grasshoppers rightly helps to destroy any kind of parasite that may be present in it. To prepare grasshoppers for cooking, the first thing that needs to be done is to remove the wings, legs and excreta.

David Gordon Fried, a Seattle-based naturalist and author, rightly says that insects are the most valued underused and scrumptious animals in the world. He shares some of the simple and interesting recipes that can be made using grasshoppers.

• Garlic butter fried grasshoppers: This can be prepared using one cup grasshoppers, melted butter, and garlic. The grasshoppers should be sautéed for 15 minutes until they change their color and become crispy.
• Dry roasted grasshoppers: Those who prefer to have baked and roasted foods rather than fried ones can opt for this recipe. In order to prepare the dry roasted grasshoppers, the insects should be baked at 200 degrees for around one to two hours.
• Grasshopper Kebabs: To prepare this delicacy, grasshoppers, bell pepper, white onion, mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, honey and ginger are required. All these ingredients should be mixed together along with the grasshopper and should be kept in the refrigerator overnight. Then, skewer the ingredients interchanging between onion, pepper and insects and sprinkle some olive oil on this and cook for 10 minutes above fire or instead cook it under the till all the ingredients are golden brown and crispy.

These are some of the delicacies that can be prepared using grasshoppers. So, amaze, enlighten, and entertain the family and friends with the above mentioned recipes.

David Gordon Fried, popularly known as the Bug Chef, is a prizewinning writer of nineteen books. This freewheeling environmentalist is a well-known guest speaker and on a regular basis gives speeches and cooking demos at places such as the San Diego Zoo, the American Museum of Natural History, Ripley’s Believe It or Not and California Academy of Sciences. He has also displayed his bug-based cuisine at colleges and schools in four foreign countries and thirty-two states in the United States.

Some of his well-known books include The Sasquatch Seeker’s Field Manual, The Compleat Cockroach, The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook. At present he lives in Seattle along with his wife Karen Luke Fildes.