Sea Urchin

REMARKS Up to 8 cm in diameter. The decorative shell is often sold as a marine souvenir. Common on the south and west coasts of Ireland.

CUISINE All that you eat of this creature, which is sold alive, are the five orange or rose ovaries (or corals). These are revealed by cutting the sea urchin open (horizontally, across the middle with scissors if necessary, but better with the large implement known as a coupe-oursins, the purchase of which I recommend). Tiny mouthfuls, but delicious. No cooking is needed, nor any accompaniment save a drop of lemon juice.