The Joy of Entomophagy

Does the idea of eating insects "bug" you? In the Western world, entomophagy primarily exists as a form of entertainment, something we think of only for the "shock value" or as a source of entertainment.

At TEDxAmsterdam, Marcel Dicke gave a presentation titled "Why Not Eat Insects?", which raises some compelling points in favor of entomophagy. See the talk here:

According to the website insectsarefood.com, the inclusion of insects on the menu provides "[a]n opportunity to question our own cultural conditioning, and broaden our ideas of what the word 'food' can identify". There are some very specific nutritional and agricultural benefits as well:

"According to the Entomological Society of America insects generally contain more protein and are lower in fat than traditional meats. In addition they have about 20 times higher food conversion efficiency than traditional meats. In other words they have a better feed-to-meat ratio than beef, pork, lamb or chicken."

 
This week's recipe is appropriately "bug-themed" but does not actually contain any insects. If you are interested in true insect recipes, you might consult The Bug Chef. For instructions on how to make the Caterpillar Sushi Roll, see this link. Also see Food.com for a written recipe for this dish. Tips for cooking sushi rice can be found on Just Hungry.