Fish

Cancer pagurus

A tier

Cancer pagurus is the edible brown crab of European Atlantic coasts, a heavy-shelled crab with powerful claws and a wide carapace packed with both white and brown meat. White claw and leg meat is sweet and fibrous; the brown body meat is rich, pâté-like, and essential to classic dressed crab. Shells are reddish-brown live and deepen when cooked. Boil or steam whole, then pick meticulously for sandwiches, bisques, and the traditional mix of white meat over seasoned brown. The yield rewards patience. Use shells for stock; keep brown meat cool and use promptly. Large cocks give bigger claws; hens often carry more body meat relative to size.