I don't want want to get into a debate here about animal cruelty. I love animals but in order to eat meat someone has to do the confronting task of preparing them for the table. We investigated and have been advised that the most humane way of preparing live marron for cooking is to put them to sleep first by placing them in the freezer (15-30 minutes depending on size), then either split in two or immediately plunge into boiling water.
BBQ Marron with (garlic) butter
Put marron to sleep by placing in freezer for 15-30 minutes. Remove from freezer and split marron in two. Remove all but tail meat from the shell and place on BBQ with flesh side down and cook for 3-5 minutes. Turn with shell down and top meat with garlic (or in my case garlic-free) butter and cook for another 3-5 minutes.
Marron in creamy chilli sauce
Put marron to sleep by placing in freezer for 15-30 minutes. Boil a large pot of water. Cook marron in boiling water, when they start to float again they are ready. Allow to cool and remove the tail from the shells. Cook 1 chopped onion in butter, add two chopped deseeded chillis. When soft and aromatic add white wine and enough cream to make the quantity of sauce that you are after. Season well with salt and pepper. Add marron tail meat to sauce and when heated through serve on top of boiled rice.
