Prawn/Shrimp talk

[caseydog]

Strictly speaking, there is a difference between shrimp and prawns.

Yes, they are different, but I think taxonomy went out the window many years ago, and now people call them whatever they grew up calling them. Yorky's photos of prawns could pass exactly for a photos of Gulf shrimp here.

CD

 

[Yorky]

Ah that's a good idea. I love tom yum and will try that.

There's also a soupy noodle dish that folks refer to as 'Prawn Mee' which I might attempt as wel

My only problem with mee or nasi on the peninsular is when the restaurants fry them in palm oil. Not that I'm allergic to palm oil but I seriously dislike the taste.

 

[Yorky]

We are having prawns today.

1 s.jpg

• Yorky
• 23 Aug 2021

2 s.jpg

• Yorky
• 23 Aug 2021

 

[Burt Blank]

Here I just point and ask for a kilo. They are usually boxed in the market by size and type. We only buy the local ones

 

[Burt Blank]

Finally - prawn stock. What are you using yours for?

I boil up a big bunch of head and shells with some mirepoix when there are enough, but so far I only ever use it as stock for paella. What other imaginative uses do you have?

Cheers!

View attachment 69757

I make two types clear with the heads and shells. For seafood bisque I then blitz and pass to get a pink color. Other uses risotto

Most things I use shellfish or fish stock in I add a shot of

 

[Yorky]

Ah that's a good idea. I love tom yum and will try that.

This is my (or rather my wife's) recipe:

Tom Yam

 

[CookieMonster]

not sure about international and/or "other nations" requirements, but country of origin labeling for seafood gets a bit sticky in USA.
the country of origin is where the fishing boat/factory is registered, not where the fish is caught....

 

[caseydog]

not sure about international and/or "other nations" requirements, but country of origin labeling for seafood gets a bit sticky in USA.
the country of origin is where the fishing boat/factory is registered, not where the fish is caught....

I'll have to look into that. But, I would think that if the package says "Wild Caught Gulf Shrimp," it would be illegal to put something other than that in the package. Besides, shrimping is such a huge industry along the Gulf coast, and that shrimp has to go somewhere.

CD

 

[vernplum]

I went to the nearby wet market today and took these shots of one of the fishmonger stalls (there are 5 of them, but I usually go here):

Unfortunately today they didn't have the giant tiger prawns (they can be up to around 10"/25cm in length and cost USD equivalent of $40/KG).

In the top left are ocean caught wild prawns - still quite big - about 6 or 7" in length and cost $35/kg. Then going clockwise (ignoring the squid) you can see smaller sizes of the wild ones. The bottom left are farmed and are about $20/kg.

Across the aisle they have more farmed prawns of differing sizes and they also put yesterday's prawns over here which you can get a bit cheaper if you don't care so much about total freshness. There's also other crustacea (flower crabs, slipper lobsters) but today they didn't have any true lobsters of any kind, nor crabs. Sometimes they have these massive mud crabs at about 2kg+. Their claws are bigger than my hands. You'll sometimes see crayfish, but I've never seen a langoustine here.

 

[CookieMonster]

there is a technical/scientific distinction between prawns and shrimp -
but they are both frequently used for 'the pink thing curled up over there'

 

[TheSoloChef]

there is a technical/scientific distinction between prawns and shrimp -
but they are both frequently used for 'the pink thing curled up over there'

I used to buy bags of cooked/chilled prawns and shrimps from the fishmonger on the local market where I grew up and the shrimps were (much) smaller versions of the prawns that we have and our (freshwater) prawns that we see in the shop don't appear to be anywhere near the size of USA ones for example.

 

[JAS_OH1]

I used to buy bags of cooked/chilled prawns and shrimps from the fishmonger on the local market where I grew up and the shrimps were (much) smaller versions of the prawns that we have and our (freshwater) prawns that we see in the shop don't appear to be anywhere near the size of USA ones for example.

I like the jumbo ones from Argentina! They're huge, sweet, and delicious.

 

[CookieMonster]

around here, shrimp are sold/marketed by count per pound
the little ones = "rock shrimp" are 20+ per pound
I normally buy the 14-16 per pound size.

there are a lot of varieties marketed - but one needs a super dedicated source...
Florida Hoppers or Pink shrimp (Penaeus Duorarum)
Gulf Pink Shrimp (Litopanaeus duorarum, formerly Penaeus duorarum)
White Shrimp (Penaeus Setiferus)
Brown Shrimp (Penaeus Aztecus)
Rock Shrimp (Sicyonia Brevirostris)
Royal Reds (Pleoticus Robustus)
Northern Shrimp, Northern Prawn (Pandalus borealis)
Humpy Shrimp (Pandalus goniurus) - west coast
Gulf Brown Shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus) - Gulf of Mexico
Gulf Pink Shrimp (Litopanaeus duorarum, formerly Penaeus duorarum)

Gulf White Shrimp (Litopanaeus setiferus)
Mexican Brown Shrimp (Litopanaeus californiensis, formerly Penaeus californiensis)
Northern Brown Shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus)
Humpy Shrimp (Pandalus goniurus) - west coast
Coonstripe Shrimp (Pandalus hypsinotis) - Pacific
Sidestripe Shrimp (Pandalopsis dispar) - Pacific
Spot Prawns (Pandalus platyceros) - not true prawn
Chinese White Shrimp (Litopanaeus chinensis, formerly Penaeus chinensis, Penaeus orientalis)
Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus stylirostris, formerly Panaeus stylirostris)

 

[SandwichShortOfAPicnic]

I used to buy bags of cooked/chilled prawns and shrimps from the fishmonger on the local market where I grew up and the shrimps were (much) smaller versions of the prawns that we have and our (freshwater) prawns that we see in the shop don't appear to be anywhere near the size of USA ones for example.

Ah yes thats right. Potted ‘shrimp’ were always the tiny prawns. I’d forgotten about that. Usually bouncy from being cooked for a bit too long

 

[karadekoolaid]

According to Wiki : "Shrimp have more pronounced legs, while prawns have legs that are almost undetectable."
Sounds like a comparison between an Ozempic and a Dolce & Gabbana fashion parade.
Flippancy aside, this comparison seems to nail the main differences:

• Shape: Prawns can’t completely curl up their bodies the way shrimp can.
• Range: Prawns prefer warmer, calmer waters than shrimp do.
• Location: Most shrimp are native to marine habitats while most prawns live in freshwater.
• Reproduction: Prawns deposit their eggs while shrimp carry the eggs underneath them.
• Claws: Prawns have three sets of claws, and shrimp have two.

Taste wise, I doubt any of us could tell the difference, although I once had some deep sea shrimp, about 6 inches long, which were a deep, orangy yellow and tasted deliciously of iodine. Can't say I've ever eaten prawns like that.