What is Langostino (Pleuroncodes monodon; P. planipes)?

Langostino Langostino

Common names for Langostino

Langostino, langostino colorado; squat lobster, langostino chileno

Other languages for Langostino

  • French name: Galathée rouge
  • Italian name:
  • German name: Langostino

Introduction to Langostino

There are many species of langostino, but the most frequently sold is Pleuroncodes monodon, a tiny, lobster-like crustacean found in cold, deep seas off the coast of Chile, where it is referred to as langostino colorado. P. planipes, commonly known as tuna crab, is a similar langostino that spans from Baja, California to Peru. Langostino lobster is supplied to the US market by a fishery off the coast of El Salvador. The langostino is really a crab belonging to the Galatheidae family. The crustacean, which is between 4 and 5 inches in length, resembles a small, crinkled crawfish but has a set of front pincers that are longer than its body. However, it is seldom seen intact in the marketplace, since it is most often offered frozen, cooked tail flesh in the shell or peeled and deveined in the United States. Trawlers catch Langostinos and land them alive for processing. Following the fishery’s near-collapse in the early 1980s, the Chilean government now carefully regulates harvesting to guarantee maximum sustainable production.

Product profile for Langostino

Langostino has the appearance of cooked shrimp flesh but a sweet, delicate flavor similar to lobster or crab. The texture is closer to that of shrimp than lobster tail flesh. The langostino’s edible piece of flesh is located in its inch-long tail. Meat counts per pound range from 100 to 200.

Cooking tips for Langostino

The pre-cooked langostino meats are time-saving and waste-free. They’re the perfect size for salads, stuffings, soups, seafood sauces, and pizza, and they may also be sautéed or stir-fried and served over pasta. The tail meat of the langostino can be utilized in dishes that call for cooked crab, lobster, or shrimp.

Nutrition facts for Langostino

Calories: 71 Fat Calories: 0 Total Fat: 0 g Saturated Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 125 mg Sodium: 360 mg Protein: 15 g Omega 3: N/A

Primary product forms for Langostino

Global supply for Langostino

Chile, El Salvador, Iran