Home > Food > Fried Hornet Larvae: A Bouyei Summertime Favorite


Fried Hornet Larvae: A Bouyei Summertime Favorite    by Wei Qiao Man
Recipe
  1. Find a hornet nest.
  2. Torch the nest from below. This will eliminate all adult hornets.
  3. Bring the nest home and separate its horizontal combs.
    4. Picture
    Hornet nests for sale!

    Luodian, Guizhou
    Picture
    Bouyei people work together to remove the larvae from the brood cells.

    Luodian, Guizhou
  4. Remove the paper-like covering from the top of each brood cell.
  5. Remove each hornet larvae. The less-developed larvae are soft and white, and look like small grubs. The more developed larvae are black and have small wings.
  6. Remove the guts with a straight pin or toothpick.
  7. Boil the larvae for a few minutes.
  8. Stir-fry with salt and hot green peppers.
  9. Serve with hot steamed rice.

This is a special treat often served during the Bouyei festival known as “xianglsis,” a lesser new year celebration that occurs on the 14th day of the 7th lunar month (usually sometime in July or August). On market days at this time of year, it's common to find hornet nests for sale.