Shrimp vs Prawns vs Crawfish vs Lobster: Which to use in this risotto?

In fact, there is so much variation within the classes of prawns and shrimp that it might even be reasonable to say that neither truly exists as a specific definable class. That these are merely convenient common names for a broad range of species that have mainly cosmetic similarities and differences. 

This is an observation I was making in the research for this article when I came across this Wikipedia article referencing the a quote of Tin Yam Chan, a crusteacean taxonomist in the research article “The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific“. That is a dense read, but it is authoritative.

The point is that, one region’s prawn is another region’s shrimp.

There are a lot of species of Shrimp, those we call Prawns, are generally of the largest varieties. There are many species of these decapods, and they have minor differences in appearance and flavor, but generally suit the same recipes.

One of my favourite dishes years ago at The Breadline, a restaurant that used to exist in Vancouver’s Gastown, was a dish with prawns proudly labeled as scampi, which I remember my mother commenting about at the time. They were gigantic, so I suppose the restaurant reasoned they were as good as scampi, and I was happy because they were delicious, but they looked nothing like a small lobster, as crawfish species tend to do. It was a difference of species that truly mattered however in a legal sense, as culinary fraud. I enjoyed the restaurant and prefer to think that this was accidental.

Variations on a theme

Of course these species all have a different actual flavour, but most types of crustaceans have a somewhat similar character, crab being a bit of an outlier.

King prawns, freshwater prawns, big lobster, small lobster, and most species of shrimp have similar texture and flavour profiles. There are differences, but not as broad as those between (for example) lamb and pork. While some may be sweeter or richer, or firmer in texture, the biggest flavour shifts come from size and regional conditions.

Local conditions and flavour

Their own diet and living conditions will have a big impact on flavour, shellfish from warmer waters tend to be larger, colder waters tend to produce firmer meats and smaller animals. The main difference between the flavour of shrimp vs prawns or crawfish is caused by conditions in the bodies of water they come from. Freshwater shrimp will taste different from shrimp caught in salt water, but whether it has longer legs, or the largest pincers, is irrelevant, they are similar creatures with similar nutritional profiles, textures, and flavours.

Rock lobster, spiny lobster, crawfish, and my personal favourite, crawdads, are all regional names for various crayfish species, most of which are found in fresh water. Crawfish have a hard exoskeleton and feather-like gills. As you may have guessed from some of the regional names for them, most species of crayfish tend to look a lot like miniature lobster. Crawfish species are abundant throughout North America, with over 300 species in the United States alone. They are also found in New Zealand and Northern Australia, with smaller populations in South-eastern Africa, South Africa, Southern China, and East Asia.

It all depends on your purpose

From the perspective of species there are significant differences among all of these creatures. As species, decapod edible crustaceans are as similar, and yet as different, as lemons, limes, or pomelos, and oranges. From a culinary perspective however, they are as similar as Seville, Mandarin, Valencia, or Blood oranges. Somewhat different tastes, but can often be used interchangeably.

What matters is that you have a suitable ingredient for your dish, whether it’s risotto, bisque, seafood cocktails, or paella. In the kitchen, the specific seafood products matter less than the meal they are in and the freshness of the catch. When one lives in a large cosmopolitan city with imports coming in from everywhere, one can easily get obsessed with a specific ingredient. But these details are often less important than we sometimes allow it to be.

A world of variety

It’s easy to forget that most parts of the world that have bodies of water are home to one or more types of crustaceans, and they simply eat the ones they have locally. which are a much more diverse group of creatures than appears to be the case at first glance.

One thing that is consistent among the vast majority of shrimp and other small crustaceans, whether its the largest prawns, or a small lobster, is that they are delicious. It’s kind of irrelevant at the end of the day if the seafood you use is part of the dendrobranchiata suborder, or the pleocyemata suborder.

100% Delicious

Most of this class of shellfish benefits from similar types of cooking and sauces. That scampi, aka Dublin Bay Prawn, won’t harm your Spanish Paella, Thai Curry, or Italian Risotto, and each dish will be equally good with Cowichan Bay Spot Prawns. Most of the world uses what’s local.

Here in Cowichan Bay, it’s Spot Prawn season and that’s what I’ll be using for this risotto.

Cowichan Bay Spot Prawn Risotto

Creamy even without dairy, this is a simple and delicious meal that is elegant when plated. Satisfying on the coldest days, and yet light enough for summer.

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Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Stock preparation: 2 hours

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: 4

Author: Gayle Hurmuses

Ingredients

• 4 cups shrimp stock
• 1.5 cups Arborio rice or Carnaroli, or Vialone Nano
• 1.5 lbs shrimp Peeled and deveined
• 3 Tbsp butter
• 1 sweet onion chopped
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 sprig thyme chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
• 1 tsp salt I use my olive salt, which you will see in the dry cured olives recipe

Instructions

• On medium heat, brown the onions in the butter, with salt
• When the onions are soft and beginning to turn golden, add the garlic and thyme
• When the garlic becomes fragrant, add the rice and stir it in so that it is coated with the butter. If the pan is dry, add 1/4 cup stock just before adding the rice
• When the rice has been thoroughly coated, slowly add the stock, ladling it in a cup at a time while stirring it gently into the rice
• After you have added half of the stock, start taking breaks after stirring the liquid in…you should stir frequently, but not constantly
• Simmer the risoto until the rice is soft but still has a bit of bite.
• After about 15 minutes, when the sauce has begun to form, add the broccoli and prawns.
• Cook these gently in the sauce, turning the prawns after a minute so that both sides cook evenly. Cook until the broccoli is soft and the prawns are bright pink.
• The risotto is done when it is al dente, a personal choice, but 25- 30 minutes should do it, although each rice variety will have its own unique timing.

Notes

Frying onions for risotto

A bit of stock before the rice

Adding the rice

Rice with some stock

Freshly peeled shrimp

Spot Prawn Risotto almost done

Spot Prawn Risotto

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!