The Best Mollusks

At Spaghetti & Mandolino, we love everything that is typical Italian, but we also have a soft spot for excellence across borders. In fact, in this section you can find a selection of the best molluscs from truly excellent fishing sites such as, for example, the famous Galician rías, narrow and long creeks that go deep into the coast of Galicia, a region located in northwestern Spain.

WHAT ARE MOLLUSKS

The term mollusk generically indicates an aquatic invertebrate animal, consisting at the same time of a soft and a compact body. In fact, the anatomy of mollusks generally consists of a soft muscular body and a particular rigid support structure, namely the shell composed of two parts called valves. However, we must clarify that speaking of mollusks, in reality we indicate a decidedly larger number of creatures that are mainly divided into two categories: that of shellfish, such as mussels, clams, oysters or scallops, and that of shellless mollusks such as, for example, octopuses, squid and cuttlefish.

The mollusks best known to the general public, however, are certainly those with shells as they are the ones that are generally most easily associated with this denomination. Another term with which these creatures are often referred to is seafood which, however, in reality, is a term that indicates more precisely the set of several marine creatures usually cooked and eaten together; in this case, in fact, crustaceans are also added to the mollusks.

LIST OF MOLLUSCS

In reality, making a list of all the mollusks that exist is impossible because more than 110,000 species of mollusks have been catalogued on planet Earth. Our intent is to list the most famous mollusks used in cooking. The best known marine mollusks are probably mussels, followed by clams, oysters and scallops. Then there are perhaps lesser-known but not least consumed mollusks: the cannolicchio, the sea date, the canestrello, the tellina, the sea truffle, the patella, the murice, the fasolaro and many others.

TASTY MARINE MOLLUSCS

Like fish in general, mollusks are undoubtedly an ingredient of great value and sought after. Some mollusks are also much more expensive to buy than others, such as oysters, which are probably the ones that can claim a higher purchase price. All our mollusks are fished and canned following a controlled supply chain that guarantees quality and safety in consumption. Mussels, with an oblong shape and with a black shell, are suitable for almost any type of preparation: in fact, they can be found in sauté, au gratin, as a condiment for pasta and risotto, but also stuffed.

Clams, a term that actually groups together numerous species, are generally triangular in shape and with rounded corners; the largest variety, whose shell measures 5-6 centimeters in diameter, is called “true”. Clams can be used to create delicious appetizers or the most classic of fish dishes, spaghetti with clams. The cannolicchi, on the other hand, are the protagonists of tasty pasta, but it can also be enjoyed grilled, baked or au gratin. It is a particular mollusk because it lives in the sand in a vertical position, protected by a long shell shaped like a tube.

The scallop, also called cappasanta, sea comb or San Giacomo shell, has a shell that can reach up to 15 cm in diameter, with the lower valve convex and the upper valve more flattened. Botticelli's iconic representation is the one that Botticelli made of it in the middle of the Renaissance in the tempera painting “The Birth of Venus”. It is a tasty, valuable mollusc, rich in omega-3 and truly versatile as it lends itself to being served au gratin, cooked in a pan, grilled but also fried.

All the mollusks you will find in our selection are caught in waters that have become excellent fishing spots to be then processed and canned by artisanal producers who have been carrying on this demanding work for generations with skill, experience and passion and handing down the gastronomic traditions of their land. Always choose only the best with Spaghetti & Mandolino!

HOW WE SHIP THE BEST SHELLFISH

Spaghetti & Mandolino has always been synonymous with quality and professionalism: we are the only e-commerce in Italy that guarantees a selection and allows the online purchase of the best mollusks. Precisely because of their quality and value, these products deserve shipping and packaging in accordance with standards that preserve the integrity, freshness and characteristics of each individual product through freshness-saving packaging and