Sweet, Savoury & Crispy Seafood with Noosa Black Garlic Honey
Golden, crispy and packed with flavour, these Crispy Black Garlic Honey & Soy Moreton Bay Bugs are a simple yet impressive seafood dish perfect for entertaining.
Inspired by a Christmas Day feast cooked by my brother-in-law Grant, this recipe combines sweet Noosa Black Garlic Honey, savoury soy sauce and crunchy panko crumbs to create an irresistible coating for fresh bug meat.
The bugs are lightly fried until golden and crisp, then finished with a drizzle of black garlic honey and fresh coriander for a vibrant, restaurant-style finish.
With just a handful of ingredients, this dish is ideal for quick seafood dinners, summer entertaining or impressive appetisers.
Recipe Details
Serves: 3–4
Prep time: 10 minutes (+ 1 hour marinating)
Cook time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
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500 g Moreton Bay bug tail meat, cleaned
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⅓ cup Noosa Black Garlic Honey
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2 tbsp soy sauce
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1 cup panko breadcrumbs
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Rice bran oil, for frying
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Fresh coriander, to garnish
Method
1. Prepare the marinade
In a small bowl, whisk together the Noosa Black Garlic Honey and soy sauce until smooth.
Add the Moreton Bay bug meat and toss to coat evenly.
Cover and marinate for about 1 hour to allow the flavours to develop.
2. Coat the bugs
Place the panko breadcrumbs in a shallow bowl.
Remove the bug meat from the marinade and coat thoroughly in the panko crumbs, pressing gently so the crumbs adhere well.
3. Fry until crispy
Heat rice bran oil in a large frying pan over medium heat until hot.
Fry the crumbed bug meat for 2–3 minutes per side, until golden brown and crispy.
Transfer to paper towel to drain excess oil.
4. Finish and serve
Arrange the crispy bugs on a serving platter.
Drizzle lightly with extra Noosa Black Garlic Honey and scatter over fresh coriander leaves.
Serve immediately.
Serving Suggestions
These crispy bugs are perfect with:
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steamed jasmine rice
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fresh Asian-style salad
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crunchy slaw
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mantou buns
They also work beautifully as a shared appetiser or seafood platter addition.
Why Black Garlic Honey Works So Well
Noosa Black Garlic Honey blends pure Australian honey with slow-aged black garlic, creating a naturally sweet condiment with deep umami richness.
It’s perfect for:
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marinades and glazes
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seafood dishes
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roasted vegetables
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cheese boards
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grilled meats
The balance of sweet, savoury and caramelised flavour transforms simple seafood into something truly memorable.