This tempura tarantula with purple potato puree is one of the bug-based creations from New York City-based chef Joseph Yoon. He is executive director of Brooklyn Bugs, an organization that wants to normalize the use of edible insects. <strong>Scroll through the photo gallery to see more.</strong>
This tempura tarantula with purple potato puree is one of the bug-based creations from New York City-based chef Joseph Yoon. He is executive director of Brooklyn Bugs, an organization that wants to normalize the use of edible insects. Scroll through the photo gallery to see more.
Brooklyn Bugs
"What I'm trying to do, is be able to present people with this wonderful cornucopia of flavors, textures, and ideas of how to cook with edible insects," says Yoon. Pictured, Yoon's Manchurian scorpion sesame rice ball.<br />
"What I'm trying to do, is be able to present people with this wonderful cornucopia of flavors, textures, and ideas of how to cook with edible insects," says Yoon. Pictured, Yoon's Manchurian scorpion sesame rice ball.
Brooklyn Bugs
As a self-styled edible-insect ambassador, the chef believes these can be a nutritious and tasty addition to our diets -- like this locust asparagus dish.
As a self-styled edible-insect ambassador, the chef believes these can be a nutritious and tasty addition to our diets -- like this locust asparagus dish.
Brooklyn Bugs
Grasshopper caramel popcorn. Insects are regularly consumed by an estimated <a target="_blank" target="_blank">2 billion people</a> and could be a way to feed the planet more sustainably, if more Westerners can be persuaded to eat them.
Grasshopper caramel popcorn. Insects are regularly consumed by an estimated 2 billion people and could be a way to feed the planet more sustainably, if more Westerners can be persuaded to eat them.
Brooklyn Bugs
This egg is topped with crickets. According to a UN report, crickets need six times less feed than cattle, four times less than sheep, and half the feed needed by pigs and broiler chickens to produce the same amount of protein.
This egg is topped with crickets. According to a UN report, crickets need six times less feed than cattle, four times less than sheep, and half the feed needed by pigs and broiler chickens to produce the same amount of protein.
Brooklyn Bugs
Cicada and tofu, with cricket green goddess dressing.
Cicada and tofu, with cricket green goddess dressing.
Brooklyn Bugs
Cicada noodles. Yoon describes cicadas as "one of my all-time favorite insects, if not my favorite."
Cicada noodles. Yoon describes cicadas as "one of my all-time favorite insects, if not my favorite."
Brooklyn Bugs
"There are over 2,000 types of edible insects with wildly different flavor profiles, textures, and functionality," says Yoon. Pictured, black ant guacamole.
"There are over 2,000 types of edible insects with wildly different flavor profiles, textures, and functionality," says Yoon. Pictured, black ant guacamole.
Brooklyn Bugs
Known as a whip spider, this is actually an amblypygid, not a true spider. It can't produce silk and has no fangs, but it can attack with its pedipalps (the appendages near its jaws) if threatened. This is just one of the impressive array of unusual insect ingredients that Yoon has access to.
Known as a whip spider, this is actually an amblypygid, not a true spider. It can't produce silk and has no fangs, but it can attack with its pedipalps (the appendages near its jaws) if threatened. This is just one of the impressive array of unusual insect ingredients that Yoon has access to.
Brooklyn Bugs
A selection of whole and powdered insects from Yoon's pantry.
A selection of whole and powdered insects from Yoon's pantry.
Brooklyn Bugs