patella

/pah-TEHL-leh/
[Italian] plural patelle

A name for limpets. A conical, univalve shellfish. These they may be cooked by washing them and then boiling them for about 5 minutes in seawater (or heavily salted water) is recommended. They have a small amount of meat and it is inclined to toughness, like a lot of those things that cling onto rocks. Alternatively the meats can be dug out and used in fish stews or chowders or in sauces to garnish other fish. They are at their best in late winter but, whatever you do to them, they will have a slightly leathery texture.

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