Shrimp with the Heads On

[BethR]

I just moved to a country where shrimp with the heads on are the predominant type available. (I came from the US where I only saw shrimp without heads.) I've always heard the heads are a very tasty part of the shrimp -- you're supposed to pull them off and suck them? I feel a little silly, but I really don't know how to handle these headed shrimp in recipes. I know I could just pull the heads off, but does anyone know a way to prep them to take advantage of the flavor from the heads? Any tips would be appreciated. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[ebobbitt]

I know it's tradition to pull the heads off crawfish and such them but I've never thought about doing that with shrimp. It will be interesting to see what everyone has to say about this. Glad you brought it up--now I'm curious.

[aggie94]

Yes, that's how they're traditionally eaten in China. I don't eat shrimp because I'm allergic, but my dad made shrimp dishes often when we were growing up for the rest of the family and for company -- always with the heads on, and I remember everyone eating them that way. I think the flavor only comes from cooking them, so I don't think you can take advantage of the flavor from the heads if you take the heads off before you cook them.

[Wendy w]

My dinner club made Thai food a couple of weeks ago and we made a soup where we used the heads in the stock. My BF, who attended, and got the privilege of working with the shrimp, suggested making them into finger puppets http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif but we discarded them afterwards. The shrimp had been purchased frozen from an Asian market.

[SusanL]

Yes, China is correct in serving with the heads on. We had some really big ones, almost the size of a small lobsters with the gnarly heads, eyes staring at you!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif But, they were the most delicious shrimp I have ever tasted!! I had to remove the head and eat the shrimp. Smaller ones were served at the same meal with shells and heads. You were to bite them whole, chew,and then spit out the part you couldn't eat- I had a very difficult time being polite to my hosts, so I did one, and moved on to the jellyfish, which is another story in itself!
Beth- I say that you tear them off and hide the heads under the shells!! That is what I did in China. Since they cleared my plate every ten minutes, I was safe. Good Luck and tell us what you do!!

[BethR]

Thanks for the tips and the stories -- the finger puppets comment had me laughing out loud! I'm looking forward to trying headed shrimp in something this week -- I haven't picked out a recipe yet. I'll let you know how it goes. Beth http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Beth]

I have seen them cooked with the heads on, especially in Asian foods and when grilled (makes them larger and easier to handle too), but my preference is usually to pop the heads off before cooking and to use the heads for a stock if I have use for one.

I'm familiar with sucking heads of crawfish, but have not heard of that for shrimp. However, not a habit I'm likely to pick up with either.

[Anne]

I usually head my shrimp before cooking them and use the heads for stock. If I am shelling the shrimp prior to cooking I also use the shells in the stock. Isn't it interesting to see how other cultures use the same food we do but in such different ways.
I have been served cooked shrimp with the heads on but could never find much to eat without some major crunching (couldn't bring myself to do that) so the hiding the heads under shells sounds good to me.

[DanaSD]

I recently returned from a business trip to Japan. At a shushi restaurant our shrimp arrived at the table with heads on. I love shrimp but don't care for eating something that is staring back at me. Our Japanese hosts showed us how to eat the shrimp. They told us to hold on to the heads to eat the body part of the shrimp. Then move your fingers to the front of the head and suck out what's in the shell. Well out came this shrimp juice and black stuff - brains? eyes? I don't know but it was kind of gross and didn't taste very good. I prefer the meat of the body and I'll pass on the heads the next time.

Besides the shrimp heads the rest of the food was wonderful. Also, the best food that I had in Japan was Chinese food - one night we were severed 15 different Chinese dishes family style - its was wonderful. I'm not what everything was that I ate but it was great.

[kwormann]

Although I dont eat much meat, Im not vegetarian. However, if all of my food had heads on it, I could quickly become one! We saw large shrimp this weekend with the heads still on and I was so grossed out....DH politely reminded me that this is the same exact food that I am crazy about and SOMEONE had to take the head off! Moral of the story.....I would not be able to eat shrimp heads, or eat the bottoms of shrimp in which the heads are still attached...(maybe no more shrimp at all?????)

Kim

[JanetB]

I hate anything looking at me when I am attempting to eat it. I have cooked shrimp with the heads on - only because it was easier to de-head them after cooking.

But, I am notorious at a local Greek seafood place as the woman who puts her napkin over the fish's head while eating it. The staff there (and my fiance) find this very entertaining. I can't help it - how can you eat something that is looking at you! ugh. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif