Delicooks

Goose barnacles (Pollicipes Pollicipes) are crustaceans that live along wild cliffs, battling the waves and growing until the the percebeiros (barnacle pickers) collect them in early summer, when they are at their very best.

Without a doubt the best are found along the Costa da Morte in Galicia, although there are good colonies in Portugal and some areas of the Atlantic coast of France.

They are considered one of the most popular seafooda and the price is high because they are still collected in the traditional way, by hand, at low tide when they are exposed on the rocks.

Characteristics of barnacles
Goose barnacles are made up of two parts: the stem (peduncle) and the calcarous "capitulum" containing the body The stem is fleshy part of the crustacean. At the top of the stem is the capitulum, a hard inedible shell. The edible portion is inside the stem and it contaimns the orange flesh with a very characteristic taste of the sea.

The best barnacles are well proportioned, thick and about 5 cm long. These are called sun barnacles. The shade barnacles, which grow on rocks under the sea, are longer and less prized by gourmets.

Their nutritional value is not significant because the number of barnacles that can be consumed at one sitting is not enough for an adult diet. They contain mostly protein and significant amounts of iodine.

How to buy barnacles?
Usually barnacles are sold in fishmongers and markets live. But it is also possible to buy them boiled or frozen.

How to keep barnacles?
Like all crustaceans, due their high water content, they are highly perishable, and need to be consumed soon after purchase. You can keep them in a refrigerator at temperatures of 3 ° / 5 ° C for 1 to 2 days. They must be cooked just be fore eating to retain their juices. They will keep frozen at temperatures of -18 º / -22 º C for 2-3 months. Check the best-before date on the package. Barnacles that have been defrosted cannot be refrozen.

How to cook barnacles?
The best way is to cook them in boiling sea water (or with marine sea salt). When the water boils, just pop in the barnacles and some bay leaves, and when boiled, drain. Cooking time is around 2-3 minutes. They can be accompanied by some boiled potatoes and dressed with good extra virgin olive oil and washed down with a chilled Albariño Rias Baixas wine.

Did you know?
The barnacle is a hermaphrodite, ie it has a female and one male organs. Also, like other crustaceans, they grow by shedding their shells.