Can you think of the most interesting food that you have ever eaten? We all eat things that other people might find strange. Animal brains and live, squirming insects are just some examples of the tasty treats enjoyed around the world! Let's see what is simmering and cooking in kitchens across the globe.
In Iceland, hakarl is a national dish that many people enjoy. It is a dish made with a rotting shark carcass. It is traditionally made by fermenting shark meat in sand and stones for 2-5 months. This process makes the meat safe to eat, since the harmful fluids in the shark would be drained. Then it is dried, cut, and served. It is said to have a very pungent smell.
Have you ever eaten brains? Well, in St. Louis, Missouri in the United States, there are restaurants that serve this dish. It is made from thin slices of a cow brain deep-fried and served between hamburger buns. Enjoy this delicious cow brain burger with a side of fries!
There are many creative and tasty ways to prepare an egg. Balut is a street food commonly eaten in the Philippines. This egg dish is a developing duck embryo that has been boiled before hatching. How developed the embryo is can also vary from place to place. Try one with salt or vinegar!
Usually cheese is made from milk curds. In Sardinia, Italy, some people enjoy live insects with their cheese. This kind of cheese is made from sheep's milk. It is fermented by young cheese flies. This special cheese is called Casu Marzu or "maggot cheese". The maggots are supposed to make the cheese tastier. This cheese should only be eaten when the insects are still alive. Once they are dead, the cheese can be poisonous to humans!
Have you tried Sannakji in South Korea? There are many different versions of it. A popular version involves cutting up live baby octopuses and serving them raw. Sometimes the entire octopus is served and eaten without being cut at all. There is no cooking involved in this dish. It is often eaten with sesame oil and sesame seeds. Sometimes the tentacles can get stuck in the consumer's throat.
In Greenland, there is a dish made out of frozen whale skin and blubber. It is called muktuk. This dish can be eaten raw or pickled. Some people think it looks like liquorice. It has different layers, including the skin, the fat, and the layer between them.
Caviar is a pricey dish. Caviar are salted eggs from a fish, usually a sturgeon. Depending on the quality of the caviar, it could range from $8,000 to $16,000 USD per kilogram. Some people think caviar tastes a bit salty and a bit fishy.
The mopane worm has some vibrant coloured spots on its body. It is made into a dish in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. These worms are taken from trees and bushes. To prepare the dish, first the guts are squeezed out of the worm. Then the worm is either boiled or fried. Many people think it is delicious.
These are just a few examples of the exciting and interesting foods that are enjoyed by some people around the world. What are some of the interesting foods that you enjoy?