Langoustines are usually sold frozen, ready-prepared with the shell removed, but they’re also available live. They are naturally pinky-orange in colour and turn a paler pink on cooking. Frozen, ready-prepared langoustines are easier to cook with. Fresh langoustines sold in their shells should be packed onto ice and smell very freshly of the sea.

Langoustines are available fresh or frozen, in and out of their shells.

Fresh langoustines need roasting or boiling in well-salted water before being pulled from their shells. They are delicious served with just a squeeze of lemon and a dollop of mayonnaise, garlic butter or aïoli, but can also be added to curry, pasta and paella. Alternatively, deep-fry them in batter, or peel and poach them and make traditional Scampi Provençal. Pre-boiled langoustines should be reheated gently; don't re-cook them or they'll toughen. Alternatively, eat pre-boiled langoustines cold in a salad with a vinegar dressing.

Pan-fried polenta with crushed peas and langoustines

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Pan-fried polenta with crushed peas and langoustines

Pan-fried monkfish with potato rosti, buttered leeks and fennel

Hot shellfish with wild garlic butter

Dublin Bay prawns, lovage purée and boxty

Caesar salad with langoustines

Scampi with tartare sauce

Langoustines with chargrilled pork belly and tomato dressing

Langoustines en papillote with raw honey, ginger and lemon

Wild garlic and langoustine pappardelle

Scallops with lemon sauce and prawn linguine

Arroz roja with langoustine

Viet-Cajun gumbo

Seafood and sobrasada paella

Crab fritters with a spiced sauce

Grilled langoustines with citrus-dressed samphire, courgette and couscous salad

Langoustine quiche with tarragon and parsley

Langoustine tacos

Prawns with ginger and spring onions

Roast poussin with langoustines and potato cakes

Barbecue glazed langoustine

Rick Stein's bouillabaisse with creamy mash

Langoustines with braised ox cheek and Parmesan risotto

Prawn and langoustine cocktail

Whole roast John Dory with mussels and langoustine

Buyer's guide

Storage

Preparation

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