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Oscar2

Dec 11, 2009, 10:16 AM

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Chapitas..........I Think?

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Since my Chicharrón question didn’t ring a bell, here’s another one we found in Oaxaca’s City Mercado. I told my mother the other day that when they come over for our family annual Christmas, gift exchange/dinner gathering, we were going to make a salad and sprinkle a little crunch bought at the Oaxaca Mercado called Chapitas (I think-not sure). They are toasted and seasoned crickets or grasshoppers (not sure).

My 89 year old dear Mother let out a squeamish (ugh) of displeasure and said no thanks son, I’ll pass on the Chapitas, but then I said, but mom, a little extra protein can be very healthy, plus I tasted one and its spicy, has crunch and yes, tasty. I could tell, she smiled with a gaggle and giggle but insisted, thanks but no thanks son…. ;-)

Any experiences out there? Check out the photo...
Attachments: Chapitas-1.jpg (48.7 KB)

esperanza

Dec 11, 2009, 11:42 AM

Post #2 of 13 (6013 views)

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Re: [Oscar2] Chapitas..........I Think?

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Since my Chicharrón question didn’t ring a bell, here’s another one we found in Oaxaca’s City Mercado. I told my mother the other day that when they come over for our family annual Christmas, gift exchange/dinner gathering, we were going to make a salad and sprinkle a little crunch bought at the Oaxaca Mercado called Chapitas (I think-not sure). They are toasted and seasoned crickets or grasshoppers (not sure).

My 89 year old dear Mother let out a squeamish (ugh) of displeasure and said no thanks son, I’ll pass on the Chapitas, but then I said, but mom, a little extra protein can be very healthy, plus I tasted one and its spicy, has crunch and yes, tasty. I could tell, she smiled with a gaggle and giggle but insisted, thanks but no thanks son…. ;-)

Any experiences out there? Check out the photo...
Chapulines, Oscar.




http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com








tashby


Dec 11, 2009, 1:17 PM

Post #3 of 13 (6005 views)

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Re: [Oscar2] Chapitas..........I Think?

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Ha! I have a photo of that *exact* same vendor from our trip in September!

Has anyone ever been to a Chapuline Farm? I'm just guessing, but I assume they're farmed at this point.

tashby


Dec 11, 2009, 1:26 PM

Post #4 of 13 (5996 views)

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Re: [tashby] Chapitas..........I Think?

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What? You don't believe me? Look at the photo!
Attachments: Chapulines.jpg (51.3 KB)

Oscar2

Dec 11, 2009, 2:12 PM

Post #5 of 13 (5985 views)

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Re: [tashby] Chapitas..........I Think?

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Yup, that’s the one. Table cloths are exact. Did you buy any….my wife did. She brought them over to me and said, open your mouth, I said, no way. She laughed that little insidious smirk on her face and I knew maybe it had possibilities, so I opened up and crunch, crunch, salsa flavor milling around in there, then I suspected it was probably one of those little critters.

She laughed, as I did and how about that, I actually ate either a Cricket of a Grasshopper, not sure???? Here is another closeup pix, I believe these are the large economy size for a max protein fix!
Attachments: Large Economy Size Criter-1.jpg (65.7 KB)

wendy devlin

Dec 11, 2009, 2:15 PM

Post #6 of 13 (5983 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Chapitas..........I Think?

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Chapulines. A traditional food.

Something, perhaps, to be relied upon, in times of famine.
Other times, a tasty treat?

When you think how many insects there are in the world. Compared to how few of us.
Good thing. We can eat them. Not role reversal:)

Although, when they like to eat, what we like to eat. The interface, becomes contested ground.

La Isla


Dec 11, 2009, 2:54 PM

Post #7 of 13 (5969 views)

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Re: [tashby] Chapitas..........I Think?

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Has anyone ever been to a Chapuline Farm? I'm just guessing, but I assume they're farmed at this point.

That should be chapulín farm: chapulín (sing.), chapulines (pl.).

Courtesy of your friendly Spanish-spelling maven ( :

Oscar2

Dec 12, 2009, 10:41 AM

Post #8 of 13 (5917 views)

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Re: [Oscar2] Chapitas..........I Think?

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Oh Boy, I sense some shyness here. Am I the only one on MC that has ever nibbled or eaten a Chapuline? It’s claimed it’s a traditional dish in Mexico. Has any expat ever eaten them in a prepared dish, and if so, was it mixing in meat, a stew, a mole, salad, sopa or whatever?

I’ve heard there is an old, old proverb: “As you get younger, a little extra protein makes you healthier, wiser and virile”……

Anonimo

Dec 12, 2009, 11:40 AM

Post #9 of 13 (5907 views)

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Re: [Oscar2] Chapitas..........I Think?

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Oh Boy, I sense some shyness here. Am I the only one on MC that has ever nibbled or eaten a Chapuline? It’s claimed it’s a traditional dish in Mexico. Has any expat ever eaten them in a prepared dish, and if so, was it mixing in meat, a stew, a mole, salad, sopa or whatever?

I’ve heard there is an old, old proverb: “As you get younger, a little extra protein makes you healthier, wiser and virile”……

Sure, we've had them. The little ones are supposed to be better than the big ones. Whichever, the important thing is to buy only the recently cooked ones, not the ones left from last year's Año Nuevo fiesta. When they lose their crispness, they are not so good.

They are used as a "botana"—a snack, to accompany shots of mezcal, for example. To me they taste like chile, salt and lime. The curious should try them once, and I did, but they aren't so good that I'd make a habit of eating them. I guess if you wanted to, you could sprinkle them on a salad instead of croutonettes. :-)

Saludos,
Anonimo

La Isla


Dec 12, 2009, 11:59 AM

Post #10 of 13 (5904 views)

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Re: [Oscar2] Chapitas..........I Think?

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... It’s claimed it’s a traditional dish in Mexico.....

I’ve heard there is an old, old proverb: “As you get younger, a little extra protein makes you healthier, wiser and virile”……

Maybe in ancient times in Mexico, chapulines were an inexpensive source of protein in the diet of the common people.

mazbook1


Dec 12, 2009, 12:09 PM

Post #11 of 13 (5900 views)

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Re: [La Isla] Chapitas..........I Think?

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Let's not get too general when talking about chapulines, as they are pretty much unheard of in northern México and evince about the same response in norteños as they do in the majority of gringos. "How gross!" or words and expressions to that effect. Personally, I've never seen them north of México (D.F.), and even there I would wonder if they weren't an "import" by folks who immigrated from southern México.


(This post was edited by mazbook1 on Dec 12, 2009, 12:10 PM)

tashby


Dec 12, 2009, 1:13 PM

Post #12 of 13 (5882 views)

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Re: [Oscar2] Chapitas..........I Think?

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I've tried them, too. I'm with Anonimo. As I said in another thread, "Not bad. Not good. Not again."

At one restaurant we ate at in Oaxaca, they were included in a plate of mixed botanas. Our friend scooped some up in a tortilla with a little of this that and the other thing and ate it like a taco. I passed. Don't see the point. They don't really taste like much once they're overwhelmed with chile and lime and salt, which actually, probably is the point.

Oscar2

Dec 12, 2009, 4:05 PM

Post #13 of 13 (5863 views)

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Re: [Anonimo] Chapitas..........I Think?

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Anonimo and Tashby,

You both touched on ways of nibbling on these little critters in such a way that it brings a piece of an experience I had up in Anonimo country, Patzcuaro. I did so much in short time I was there and we had a wonderful time of which I will write again in a different thread.

Back on point, we visited a small Mescal factory near Patzcuaro, and in my visage asked and was a little disappointed that its not popular anymore to put the worm in mescal which for years was expected and enjoyed by many.

Well, since Anonimo and you commented that Chapulines are sometimes used in the drinking of Tequila and Mescal, this to me sounds like a capitol idea. With limón, sal and Chapulines as perhaps a little side botana, sounds snappy to me, and maybe a way to down the ignitable fire of Tequila and Mescal. You learn something everyday!
 
 
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