The larder
seafood

Langoustines

The Clyde's finest, cooked in butter, gone in seconds.

Scampi to a chip shop, gold to a chef. Live langoustines are one of Scotland's greatest exports and — infuriatingly — most of them get shipped straight to France. Buy them alive, prep them properly, cook them fast. That's the whole recipe.

In season: springsummerautumn
Photograph on its way

Where to find it

A proper fishmonger, ideally same-day off the boat at Oban, Mallaig or Newhaven. Alive is best; freshly cooked is fine.

Pairs with

Brown butterLemonDillSourdoughChilliGarlic

How to pick it

  • Lively movement in the tail
  • No black patches on the shell
  • Sea-clean smell
  • Heaviness for the size

How to treat it

  • Freezer for 15 minutes to stun humanely
  • Split down the back, devein
  • Pat completely dry — wet langoustines steam not sear
  • Cook 90 seconds a side in foaming butter
Watch out
  • – Overcooked = rubber. Truly.
  • – Save every shell for bisque — free flavour
  • – Ammonia smell = past it
Cook it: recipes with langoustines