Wild Copper River Salmon is in season now and when I stopped by our local fish market last week to get some for the weekend I saw that they were having a special on LANGOSTINO. I knew what they were, a member of the shrimp family I thought, and I didn’t remember that I have ever tried them. I started chatting with the person behind the counter and learned that they are a member of neither the shrimp nor lobster family, but rather are closely related to the hermit crab…I’m a trivia buff so think this kind of stuff is interesting. They are found in deep waters anywhere from the South Pacific to North Atlantic ocean. They resemble shrimp and are often substituted for lobster on the menu in some restaurants. All this piqued my curiosity and I bought a pound to experiment with.
The langostino I bought were cooked, shelled and frozen. All I had to do was thaw them. Since I bought them I have noticed them at Costco too, and hear that Trader Joe’s carries them as well. When something isn’t on my radar I don’t see it no matter where I go. Geez…wonder what other exotic things I miss in the course of a day. Since they were already cooked all they needed was to be heated through in the last few minutes the vegetables were cooking. This is one of my favorite summer pasta recipes. There is no heavy sauce and tons of flavor comes from the vegetables and seasonings. I usually use shrimp or crab, but the langostino was a nice change. The texture reminded me a little bit of lobster, but between you and me I think shrimp has more flavor. The langostino would be delicious in a salad and would probably make very tasty seafood tacos too. I may have to go back to the fish market for a few more.
- 1 pound cooked langostino. Shrimp or chicken would be a good substitution.
- 5 ounces pancetta, cut into a small dice.
- ½ yellow bell pepper, large dice
- ½ red bell pepper, large dice
- 1 onion, medium dice
- 3 large cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup sundried tomatoes, chopped
- 4 tablespoons capers
- 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup fresh parsley
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- salt and pepper to taste
- extra virgin olive oil
- freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 1 pound pasta. Whatever shape you prefer
- While preparing the vegetables, bring a pot of water to boil for the pasta. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving ¼ cup pasta cooking water.
- In a large skillet, cook the pancetta, rendering out some of the fat.
- When pancetta is just getting a little crisp, add the onion and cook for 2 - 3 minutes. Add a drizzle of olive oil if necessary to keep things from sticking to the pan.
- Add the yellow and red bell pepper and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring as needed until the vegetables are just slightly past crisp tender.
- Stir in the langostino, sundred tomatoes, crushed red pepper, and the capers. Cook and stir until the langostino has warmed through.
- Stir in the parsley and white balsamic vinegar. Add salt and pepper to taste. Toss all ingredients with the pasta. Drizzle with the reserved pasta water and a little olive oil.
- Serve immediately. If desired, top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
If you visit THAT’S SOME GOOD COOKIN’ you will see another preparation of this delicious recipe. If you like langostinos Terri shares several other recipes I know you will want to try. And her photos are beautiful.
This post is linked to FOODIE FRIDAY at Rattlebridge Farm.
Ooh, I’d love this. Thanks for telling me what they were. I always thought they were a shrimp.
I’ll have to keep my eyes opened up at Costco..sometimes we have the same items..this looks fresh and beautiful:)
Monique recently posted..Soul Food #139
Oh my goodness, my mouth is watering! That must be wonderful to go to a fresh seafood market and pick the freshest of fresh!!! I love that!!
: ) xo
Kris
Cathy, I never tried these but always wondered about the taste, I thought they tasted like shrimp also. I’m like you never seen them at Costco or Traders! Your pasta dish looks yummy!
Marie recently posted..Caprese Style Portobellos
I thought langostino were related to lobster. Ya learn something every day! I will have to look at Costco next time I’m there. Your pasta salad looks really good Cathy – yay another Salmon Pasta salad recipe to try. Can I link this to my Linky feature on my last Salmon Saturday?
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) recently posted..Limoncello Chicken Wings
Kind of like lobster but with less flavor than shrimp. Got it. Whatever it tastes like, the pasta looks really good. I love the garlic, pancetta and capers together in there.
What Kris said and and it’s always nice to make something unique to see how it turns out.
Larry recently posted..Rving at Lake Junaluska & The Grove Park Inn
This sounds delicious Cathy, I’m so glad you educated me about these langostino, I’ve always wondered myself! Love simple fresh salads like this, I’m so wishing I had a bowlful right now!
The Café Sucre Farine recently posted..Avocado Breakfast Flatbreads
I’m thinking this recipe would also be great with lobster and since I’ve just gotten some at the dock, that’s what I going to try!
Yep, I’ve gotten them at TJ’s and tried them. I agree that shrimp have more flavor, but they’re fun for a change! Thanks for sharing the recipe…
What a great summer meal. So colorful.
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes recently posted..Google Reader is Going Away
What a PERFECT summer dish! We used to order langostino when we lived in FL & I, too, thought they were more like lobster. In fact, I’m pretty sure they were advertised like that down there.
I would like to find them shelled & cleaned & cooked…I’m not cleaning them myself! ~shudder~
Thanks for the education. I will be on the look-out for them now.
Hugs,
Rett
Rettabug recently posted..National PINK Day in the Gazebo
I have had these, but not for a long time at a very nice restaurant. When I had them I thought oh good, mini lobster. Okay, back to Trader Joes.
Madonna/aka/Ms. Lemon recently posted..Pineapple Buttermilk Sherbet
Your pasta dish sounds delicious with all your flavorful ingredients. Now that we are in Maine, I can travel down to the other Portland :)…they have a TJ’s and I’ll see if I can find your langostino. There is another shellfish that is similar but has incredible flavor…langoustines that I have had fresh during our travels in Europe. They look like miniature lobsters and have always been wonderful and very delicate in texture.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..Maine, The Way Summer Should Be
Oh my this looks and sounds so good!
This would be perfect for our HHH weather! It looks so yummy.
~Judy
JG recently posted..~Strawberry Freezer Jam~
Your pics are so bright and crisp! The dish looks so good! I have made langostino, but haven’t seen them lately. I thought they were related to lobster, in taste anyway. 🙂 Not that I can remember what lobster tastes like, so $$$$!
Kathleen recently posted..The Party~ Let’s Dish # 68
Mmmm does this look fabulous and such a great summer dinner! I love the combination of flavors you have here. I often make pasta dishes both hot and cold during the summer but forget about using fish or seafood. Great idea!
Jamie recently posted..Spicy Lamb & Feta Gözleme with a North African Twist
What a terrific dish, and your photographs, as always, are fab!
This looks yummy. I’m far, far, far from any Costco or Trader Joe’s. Have never tried these… they look so much like shrimp, and since you say the taste is so much like shrimp, maybe I’m not missing out!
Karen recently posted..Tuscan Spinach-Basil Pesto Salad