During family meals at the end of the year celebrations, we often tend to favor exotic foods and foodstuffs, to change things up a bit from everyday meals. And among the most prized food items, Antarctic king crabs hold a high place. Make your purchase on Nautilus.
From its scientific name "Lithodes santolla", the Antarctic king crab is a decapod crustacean of the Paguroidea family. Living mostly in the cold seas of Argentina and Chile, off Patagonia, the Inland Sea of Puerto Williams and the Strait of Magellan, the "southern king crab" is the largest species of crab. For good reason, the weight of this crustacean can easily reach 5 kilos, with a wingspan of around 1 to 2 meters.
However, with global warming, leading to a rise in the temperature of the waters of the Southern Ocean, the king crab has been invading Antarctica for a few years, thus causing great damage to the ecosystem of this continent located in the South Pole. . Researchers and scientists are divided on the invasion of Antarctic king crabs. Indeed, for some of them, this large crustacean was part of the fauna of this region from its origin.
Otherwise, easily recognizable by its red shell covered with sharp points, the Antarctic king crab is fished mainly between July and November. Nevertheless, to avoid the spread of the species, fishing for this crustacean is highly regulated by the Chilean and Argentine governments. Thus, the use of industrial boats is simply prohibited. In addition, a quota is set for the quantity of crabs to be caught. Finally, the Antarctic king crab must be delivered fresh and therefore alive to the canneries, before being canned.
But if the Antarctic king crab has always been a very popular commodity with gourmets, it is mainly thanks to its very tasty flesh which would be very similar to lobster, in terms of taste and texture. It is therefore a highly sought-after luxury dish that you will very rarely find in your neighborhood fishmonger. And in case you are lucky enough to find some on the French market, only the legs of this king crab will be offered for sale. The flesh of the body, on the other hand, is generally reserved for the great starred restaurants.
So, if you plan to enjoy Antarctic king crab during your Christmas meals, do not waste your time looking for this product in the fish or frozen aisles of your supermarket. Without having to leave the comfort of your home, place an order on Nautilus, the online sales site for canned shellfish. Available in a 190 gram can, Antarctic king crab lends itself to all recipes, whether you serve it as a starter or main course.
Already, people who are cooking this delicious crustacean for the very first time can go to Nautilus without further delay to find recipe ideas. You will be spoiled for choice between a puff pastry of king crab with chanterelle mushrooms, verrines of king crab in jellies or why not a crab hot and cold. To bring out the very delicate taste of this crustacean, the king crab will be accompanied by a good Chilean vintage. Bon appetit!
