Percebes are the wildest, most spectacular seafood in Spain! They are briny and fresh, with a taste somewhere between lobster and clam. They are painstakingly harvested by hand off the wave-battered rocky shores of Galicia in Spain's northwest.
At most Galician restaurants, these delicate goose barnacles are served steaming hot and can sell for up to 100 euros a serving. Our friends at Conservas de Cambados have accomplished an incredible feat by preserving these delicate, flavorful percebes in a can. The masters at Cambados source directly from the fishermen and carefully prepare each batch by hand.
Why are these goose barnacles so precious? Each one is harvested with a knife from treacherous wave-battered rocks. Foragers dash between giant crashing waves to cut away a small handful of these precious barnacles, a very dangerous endeavor indeed.
Serve these delicate percebes with a bottle of Albariño white wine. If you prefer them warm, submerge the can in a “baña maría,” or a bowl of very hot water for ten minutes before opening. And don’t forget a freshly baked loaf of Galician bread!
Note: This product complies with all federal labeling and food safety requirements. We happily eat this product at home ourselves, but California requires the following warning.
CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS - WARNING: Consuming this product can expose you to chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and/or reproductive harm. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/food.