Recipes
EAT a mealworm you say?! No way!
Actually, Mealworms are quite nutritious insects, they are high in protein and fat. In some countries they are even considered delicacies! Mealworms can be eaten raw and alive, they can also be pan-fried, but dry-roasting is often the tastiest and least recognizable way to eat them.
How to Dry Roast mealworms
Place your live mealworms in a colander and toss and rinse them under cool water. This is to remove any food and substrate from the worms. Be sure to pick out any dead worms or pupae. Pat the worms dry with paper towels, place them in a container or plastic bag, and put them in the freezer for about fifteen minutes. This will quickly kill the worms. Spread the mealworms out evenly on a non stick cookie sheet. If you are worried that the worms may stick, you can lightly grease the sheet. Place the worms in an oven at 200 degrees and bake them for one to two hours until they are dry and crispy. Some people do not like the smell of baking worms and prefer to cook them outside on a gas grill set to a low temperature.
NOTE: If you are roasting a large quantity of mealworms, you can use a roasting pan instead of a cookie sheet. They may also need to be baked for a couple more hours.
EAT a mealworm you say?! No way!
Actually, Mealworms are quite nutritious insects, they are high in protein and fat. In some countries they are even considered delicacies! Mealworms can be eaten raw and alive, they can also be pan-fried, but dry-roasting is often the tastiest and least recognizable way to eat them.
How to Dry Roast mealworms
Place your live mealworms in a colander and toss and rinse them under cool water. This is to remove any food and substrate from the worms. Be sure to pick out any dead worms or pupae. Pat the worms dry with paper towels, place them in a container or plastic bag, and put them in the freezer for about fifteen minutes. This will quickly kill the worms. Spread the mealworms out evenly on a non stick cookie sheet. If you are worried that the worms may stick, you can lightly grease the sheet. Place the worms in an oven at 200 degrees and bake them for one to two hours until they are dry and crispy. Some people do not like the smell of baking worms and prefer to cook them outside on a gas grill set to a low temperature.
NOTE: If you are roasting a large quantity of mealworms, you can use a roasting pan instead of a cookie sheet. They may also need to be baked for a couple more hours.
Banana Worm Bread
½ cup shortening
¾ cup sugar
2 bananas, mashed
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup chopped nuts
2 eggs
¼ cup dry-roasted mealworms
Directions: Mix together all ingredients. Bake in greased loaf pan at 350 deg F for about one hour.
Mealworm French Fries
4 Large potatoes
2 dozen mealworms – boiled but not roasted
1 cup chopped scallions
½ teaspoon smoked salt
Directions: Cut and slice potatoes into preferred style, i.e. shoestring, etc. Keep the skin on to enhance the homemade appearance and flavour. If you prefer to peel your potatoes, please keep in mind that fries made from peeled potatoes should be chilled after cutting in cold water for 10 minutes to 30 minutes before frying, to ensure maximum crispiness and to prevent them from sticking together while frying.
Deep fry potatoes, mealworms and scallions together for 3 minutes in proper temperature oil. The oil is the proper temperature when the fries don’t sink when dropped in and bubbles remain on top of the oil. Always use clean oil to fry potatoes.
Sautéed Mealworms
1-2 cups mealworms
¼ cup butter
3 cloves garlic
¼ cup chopped scallions
Directions: Melt butter, add garlic and scallions and sauté for several minutes. Add insects and sauté for an additional 10 – 15 minutes. Season to taste. Serve hot.
½ cup shortening
¾ cup sugar
2 bananas, mashed
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup chopped nuts
2 eggs
¼ cup dry-roasted mealworms
Directions: Mix together all ingredients. Bake in greased loaf pan at 350 deg F for about one hour.
Mealworm French Fries
4 Large potatoes
2 dozen mealworms – boiled but not roasted
1 cup chopped scallions
½ teaspoon smoked salt
Directions: Cut and slice potatoes into preferred style, i.e. shoestring, etc. Keep the skin on to enhance the homemade appearance and flavour. If you prefer to peel your potatoes, please keep in mind that fries made from peeled potatoes should be chilled after cutting in cold water for 10 minutes to 30 minutes before frying, to ensure maximum crispiness and to prevent them from sticking together while frying.
Deep fry potatoes, mealworms and scallions together for 3 minutes in proper temperature oil. The oil is the proper temperature when the fries don’t sink when dropped in and bubbles remain on top of the oil. Always use clean oil to fry potatoes.
Sautéed Mealworms
1-2 cups mealworms
¼ cup butter
3 cloves garlic
¼ cup chopped scallions
Directions: Melt butter, add garlic and scallions and sauté for several minutes. Add insects and sauté for an additional 10 – 15 minutes. Season to taste. Serve hot.
Enjoy!
Stir Fry Mealworm Image retrieved from http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/2014/04/cooked-meal-worms.jpg
Banana Bread Mealworm Image retrieved from http://i.guim.co.uk/static/w-620/h--/q-95/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/11/11/1289477356084/Grubs-up-banana-worm-brea-006.jpg
Sauteed Mealworm Image retrieved from http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/guywithkids/16056023/3751/3751_320.jpg
Banana Bread Mealworm Image retrieved from http://i.guim.co.uk/static/w-620/h--/q-95/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/11/11/1289477356084/Grubs-up-banana-worm-brea-006.jpg
Sauteed Mealworm Image retrieved from http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/guywithkids/16056023/3751/3751_320.jpg
