Classification of seafood

Classification of seafood

Clams with an elongated body

1. Lobster (bogavante) has the dark blue body with long whiskers and the claws up to 45 cm long. This is one of the most delicious marine products that can be boiled or grilled with the addition of different spices.
2. Norwegian lobster (cigalo) has an elongated shape. Its body is orange or red. The lobster has 2 huge claws of different size. Its length is from 12 to 20 cm. The lobster’s back is a delicacy, but its claws are inedible.
3. Shrimp (gamba) has the length of 2-30 cm. It is common in the seas all over the world. Shrimps are a low-calorie delicacy, rich in protein and calcium.
4. Crayfish (langosta) is a bright orange or pink crustacean, living in the North Sea of Atlantic. Its meat is considered a delicacy.
   5. Prawn (langostina) has a long head and short whiskers, elongated light-grey body. Its size is from 12 to 20 cm. Prawns are used for making soups, paella, curry and other dishes.

Seafood with a short body

1. Cangrejo de mar (sea crab) is a decapod crustacean with a small head and short belly. Crabs are one of the most popular and sold seafood all over the world.
2. Buey de mar (crab) is a large crustacean (15-20 cm) with oval body and smooth brown shell. It has 8 legs and 2 claws. Crab is boiled with onion, carrot and fennel, and served with white wine.
3. Sea spider (centollo) is a crab with a rounded rough shell. It goes well with mayonnaise.
4. Necora, or velvet crabs (necora) is an unusual crab with a brown body, covered with soft hairs. Its size is about 15 cm. Delicious crab meat is extracted from the shell after boiling and seasoned with different sauces.
5. Goose barnacle (percebe) is a meaty crustacean, coated with the black shell. This is a very unusual delicacy with strange smell and taste. Not everybody will risk to try it!
Bivalves  
1. Seashell (almeja fina y chirla) is a small dark grey clam with a thick shell. It is used for making paella and is good with oysters.
2. Cockle (berberecho) is a smooth shell with the picture in the form of arcs. Its length is 6-7 cm. Cockle is also used for making paella or just fried.
3. Donax (coquina) is a brown elongated triangular shell. Because of its small size (2-3 cm) it is served as an appetizer before the main dish.
4. Navaja is a dark gray elongated clam. It is about 12 cm long and has a very unusual taste. You can fry it with olive oil, fresh parsley and a glass of white wine.
5. Oyster (ostra) is a small bivalve. In Spain it is eaten raw and served with champagne or dry wine. The standard serving is 6-12 oysters.
6. Scallop (vieira) is a bivalve with ears at the front and back of its head. Tasty and tender meat of scallops is used for making salads, and also eaten raw.
7. Mussel (mejillon) is a clam with an elongated triangular shell (its size is from 6 to 8 cm). They are characterized by tender taste and useful properties. Mussel meat is recommended even to the people who follow the diet.
Univalve (conches)
1. Lapa is a salty freshwater snail of conical shape. Some of them are edible. Their meat has soft and tender taste.
2. Bigaro is a small clam (2 cm long) with a smooth brown shell. This sea delicacy is not widespread, but very tasty.
3. Cañadilla is a yellow clam with a shell covered in spikes. Their size is from 6 to 8 cm. Serve it boiled.
4. Murex (busano) is a dark grey clam with a rough shell, covered with grooves (6-7 cm long). It has a sharp flavor and is suitable only for the fans of exotics.
Cephalopods
1. Squid (calamar) is a red clam with soft body, 2 lateral fins, 2 tentacles and 8 legs. Many kinds of squid are edible. They can be boiled, stewed, fried, added to the salads or served as a separate dish.
2. Sevenstar flying squid (pota) is a very tasty clam similar to the squid. It can be fried, grilled, seasoned with the alioli or lemon. It is used in many recipes of Mediterranean cuisine.
3. Octopus (pulpo) is a red-brown clam with a rounded body and 8 tentacles. It can be fried, boiled or grilled (tentacles are the most delicious part). Octopus can be fried in olive oil, with the addition of vegetables and wine.
4. Cuttlefish (sepia) is an oval clam with 8 legs and 2 tentacles. It is a very delicious diet seafood that can be used for making paella and pasta. Cuttlefishes are boiled, eaten raw or fried in olive oil.
Seafood is one of the most delicious and useful elements of our nutrition. Spanish cuisine is especially famous for the seafood dishes, so don’t miss the chance to try all kinds of delicacies.