Langoustine or Scampi? What is the difference?
Vrijdag 21 september 2018

 

You will find Langoustines more and more often in supermarkets. But are they the same as scampi? And more important, are they tasty?


After reading this article from a specialist langoustine and shellfish processing company, you will know the differences and some fun facts.

 

THIS IS A LANGOUSTINE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE NORWAY LOBSTER

Langoustines can be quite large. They are often smaller, but on this picture you can clearly see what they look like.


This was caught by North Sea fisherman Sander Meijer who also took the picture. This week, he was caught on the North Sea, 300 kilometers above Schiermonnikoog (Netherlands) And to be precise 150 kilometers West of Hvide Sande DK.

 

Text goes further below the imange

Langoustine caught on the North Sea

 

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LANGOUSTINE AND A SCAMPI?

Langoustine and Scampi are the same. Just look further down the article at the translations per country.

 

IF YOU want to be sure: NEPHROPS NORVEGICUS

Even for many restaurant owners and consumers the different names are unclear. The latin name is Nephrops Norvegicus is therefore used in commerce. Buyers and sellers want to be sure they're talking about the same product.

 

Sweet TASTE

Langoustines are considered a delicacy. The white fleshy meat in the tail and body is juicy, slightly sweet and lean.

 

SPAWN ON OR IN scampi = TASTY

Spawn in the heads of a langoustine is a natural appearance.

When heating during the preparation, the spawn will turn into a red / orange color, and this will give extra flavor.

It is important that you unfreeze correctly. You do this by removing the Langoustine from the plastic tray and putting it in a colander, then keeping it under cold running water until the product has been thawed.

 

spawn on scampi gives a great taste

 

WHAT ARE THE TASTIEST LANGOUSTINES?

The most fresh are the tastiest. That's why we prefer the ones that are caught in our own North Sea.

Gambas, for example, are not caught in the North Sea but are grown in "discarded" rice fields which have been flooded with water.

 

(Personal not from the Author: Oromar is a company in the small fishing village called Urk, the Netherlands. It's located few miles from the fishing grounds on the North Sea. Scampi is deliverd fresh from the fishing ships. Sometimes even within a day from catching. It's quickly deep frozen and packaged. After that it's delivered trough whole Europe. Because of the quick processing the quality remains, and that's why our customers love it)

 

Is it safe to eat Scampi while I'm pregnant?

Yes, it is safe to eat shellfish while you're pregnant. But please do cook them thoroughly. If you like to read more about eating fish and shellfish during pregnancy, please read this article.  

 

About the word: LANGOUSTINE, NORWAY LOBSTER OR SCAMPI?

There is a lot of confusion about the name of Langoustines. That starts with the different languages. That is why we have listed this for each country:

 

ALL THE SAME - the word scampi mentioned PER COUNTRY:

  • The Netherlands: Langoustine, Norwegian Lobster
  • Italy: Singular Scampo - plural of scampi
  • United Kingdom: Norway Lobster
  • Ireland: Dublin Bay Prawn
  • Spain: Cigala
  • Portugal: Lagostim
  • Germany: Norwegian Hummer or Kaisergranaten
  • Denmark: Jomfruhummer

 

WHAT ARE not LaNGOUSTINES!

  • Giant deep-sea prawns
  • Shrimps. These are smaller than the Langoustine and look different. They don´t have scissors.
  • Gamba's = Giant deep-sea prawn.
    The difference between scampi (langoustine) and prawns is that the scampi belong to the lobster family and prawns to the shrimp family. The langoustine is caught here in the North Sea and the gambas are not.
  • Large shrimp. These are smaller
  • Crustaceous Langoest

 

HOW Do scampi’s LOOKS LIKE?


The Norwegian lobster is a lobster that can reach 10 to 30 centimeters, which is caught in the North Sea. A langoustine is orange on the top and sides and white on the bottom. They are relatively long and slim compared to other lobster species.

 

No difference between Langoustine or Scampi 


THE COLOR and  WHERE TO LOOK AT?

When judging the color of Langoustine, we pay attention to a clear orange color of the whole shellfish. As the product ages, a light gray glow will appear on the head. That black color continues to progress the older the product becomes.

Source: VCU / ILVO

 

Langoustine color, where to look at and what is important

 

Scampi’s ARE CONSUMED A LOT IN THE NETHERLANDS

Langoustines have a large habitat. They live in the North-East Atlantic, around Iceland, Norway and the Faroe Islands to Northwest Africa and the Mediterranean Sea. But due to the change in the temperature of the seawater, they are becoming more common in the areas of Dutch fishermen. 

 

FUN FACT: WHY ARE THEY CALLED LOBSTER?

If a norway lobster wants to escape, he 'swims' backwards by striking his tail. This is called 'lobstering'.

Source: Wikipedia

The way a langoustine escapes is called lobstering

 

HOW SHOULD YOU PEEL AND PREPARE?

You should actually see this video how best to peel and prepare.

  

BUY FRESH of deep fried?

Are you a purchase manager of a wholesale company? Then please contact Oromar

 

Are you a private person or a restaurant owner? Then look for the fish store or local wholesaler.

Enjoy your meal!


Heerlijke Langoustine bereid met een laagje kip

Foto: Jaume Escofet via Flickr

Langoustine in Restaurant

Foto: s-velasco via Flickr 


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