Gambero, Gamberetto, Gamberone, Mazzancolla

The many varieties of prawn and shrimp belong to the same family as the lobster. Indeed one type of prawn, the gambero di acqua dolce (freshwater prawn or crayfish) is an exact miniature copy of the lobster and is almost as popular on the culinary scene. Other types of prawn do not have claws, although their armoured body and head have a very similar look to their larger cousins. Also like the lobster, the many natural colours of prawns, from pale orange and deep red to dark greyish-blue, all turn red when cooked. Prawns and shrimp are well loved and fished all over the world, but Mediterranean prawns have an unmatchable sweet taste and sea fragrance.