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Goose barnacle

Goose barnacles are edible crustacean-like shellfish commonly steamed or otherwise simply cooked.

Goose barnacle — illustrative ingredient image

About Goose barnacle

Cracas are edible goose barnacles, marine crustaceans with a small edible body enclosed in a hard, stalked shell. They are treated as seafood and are commonly cooked whole, often served as a delicacy or included with other shellfish in broths and seafood platters.

When cooked, the interior is tender and juicy, with a concentrated briny flavour reminiscent of shellfish. The edible portion is small compared with the shell and stalk. Flavour and texture vary with freshness, cooking method, and the particular goose barnacle, while the rigid outer covering remains inedible.

Cracas are generally presented shell-on, fresh or cooked. Boiling or steaming opens and cooks the enclosed morsel, which can be extracted by hand or with a small utensil. They may be served with broth, lemon, or other shellfish, though the basic preparation is simply cooking and opening the shell.

Ingredient type
whole food

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Where goose barnacle appears

2 linked foods

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Showing 1–2 of 2

Snacks

Street food

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for goose barnacle

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

Cracas (goose barnacles)

English

goose barnacles

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Goose barnacle nutrition & diet

Goose barnacle nutritional value

Reference: Percebes crus

Per 100 g of 100 g edible portion in the named official reference form.

Calories
59kcal
Protein
13.6g
Carbs
0.0g
Fat
0.5g

Official national food-composition reference. The displayed food form is part of the estimate; cultivar, recipe, brand, processing and preparation can change values.

Portions & preparation

Establish the exact marine species and edible part before using a reference, since common naming can cover different organisms. Match raw, steamed, or otherwise cooked barnacles, and distinguish the edible stalk or body from shell, covering, and discarded material.

Compare the right form: Reference must match the confirmed goose-barnacle species and edible portion, specifying raw or cooked form, shell or stalk retention, and preparation.

Diet considerations

Goose barnacles are marine animal foods and are not plant-derived. Their classification and processing should be confirmed for dietary interpretation, particularly where shellfish categories matter. Batters, sauces, dairy, cereal coatings, or mixed seafood preparations can change compatibility and portion-dependent carbohydrate patterns.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Typically incompatible
  • Vegetarian
    Typically incompatible
  • Pescatarian
    Typically compatible
  • Keto
    May be compatible
  • Paleo
    May be compatible
  • Low-carb
    May be compatible
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Typically incompatible
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Typically incompatible
The ingredient profile identifies an animal-derived food or derivative.
Vegetarian · Typically incompatible
The profile identifies animal flesh, seafood or a derivative excluded by a vegetarian diet.
Pescatarian · Typically compatible
Seafood fits this pescatarian definition. Added meat-based stock or other ingredients would need checking separately.
Keto · May be compatible
The plain form may fit a carbohydrate-restricted diet. Check the portion, added sugar, coatings and sauces against the nutrition values above.
Paleo · May be compatible
May fit a paleo pattern, depending on the cut or form, processing and added ingredients.
Low-carb · May be compatible
The plain form may fit a carbohydrate-restricted diet. Check the portion, added sugar, coatings and sauces against the nutrition values above.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Typically incompatible
This profile identifies shellfish, which does not meet the kosher fish criteria.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: Portuguese Food Composition Database, INSA 7.1 (2026) — 2120000018 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .