Insects as a source of protein

[Carrot Cruncher]

Ok, so I wont be trying it for Sunday lunch but has anyone looked into using insects etc a source of protein ?

Plenty of them about, i was watching a program about a tribe who lived by a lake in africa who at a certain time of year as the flys hatched would catch them using wet pans etc and make them into a burger of sorts

Don't get me wrong, i'd rather have a steak, just wondering if anyone has looked into it, or more importantly, tried it

[the-gnole]

That's what Eccles cakes are made of isn't it, "Dead fly cakes" we call them.

Have thought about Worms in an omelete in the past, but which ones are best?

[TomW]

Have thought about Worms in an omelete in the past, but which ones are best?

They all taste like corned beef when cooked

I wouldn't be above eating insects if needed, hell id eat em anyway if I could be bothered to catch enough to make it worthwhile...

[KalPrep]

For a number of tribal communities in Africa/India etc insects are a major source of protein to compliment an otherwise heavily agriculturally based diet.

Just have to be careful in not expending more energy than you gain. Probably better looking for nests or larger concentrations and collect in one go.

[Carrot Cruncher]

On the program I watched where they were catching flies it must have been a type that all hatch on the same day or two as the air was thick with them. They just swang wet pans etc around and the flies stuck to the pans. They then scraped them altogether into "burgers" and grilled them over a fire.

If nothing else a few bugs could spice up a stir fry

I suppose the next question is whether any in the UK are poisonous to eat ?

[TeeDee]

In this country I've only 'had a play' with woodlice and worms , I was hungry enough that they were a welcome addition to the plant life I was existing on. The woodlice can be akin to Prawn , the worms were dried out then turned to powder and added to soup to thicken it.

The only other thing I can think I could harvest in sufficient quantity in this country would be Ants ( wood ant piles in forest area are quite common ) and Maggots and I'd rather not eat Maggots.

[maxilaura]

The thought of it is gross, but I think if I was hungry enough, I would eat it. Millions of people around the world survive on eating "gross" stuff like insects, so I would give it a go, I don't have to like it, but if it is going to help me live to look after my daughter, then I will do it.

[tfish]

IF you could live on flys we wouldnt have heard of Bob Geldolf.

Worms is the one. Very easy collect in this country.

[Carrot Cruncher]

So other than TD with the woodlice and worms, no one else tried insects ? No preparation or cooking tips ?

I know with snails (another plentiful one) that you need to keep them for a couple of days on a controlled diet to purge any toxins but that's as far as my knowledge stretches unfortunately

[the-gnole]

How about Grass hoppers

Have a look on ebay, loads of ready cooked insects on sale there

http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/26088496 ... 6886473091