This feast to chill any palate was prepared with the help of the book Extreme Cuisine (“Extreme Cuisine”).
10. FRIED SCORPION
Country/Region – Singapore
Hey, isn’t the scorpion poisonous? It is, yes, but as the animal is cooked before being fried in oil, the high temperatures of the preparation trigger a chemical reaction that neutralizes the poison. Then, just swallow the animal – whole, from the claws to the tail. The preferred species is the black scorpion, which is larger and has less venom than the brown scorpion.
Curiosity – The scorpion is a dish admired by most Asian peoples. Most countries on the continent taste pestisco using chopsticks, that pair of sticks used to bring food to the mouth.
9. POISONOUS FISH FILLET
Country/Region – Japan
The poisonous fish is fugu or puffer fish, which has a lot of tetrodotoxin, a poison ten times stronger than cyanide. So that the delicacy does not kill anyone, the chef takes out a bag near the gills with poison. Afterwards, he pierces the bag and spreads a small dose of the toxin over the fish meat, to cause a certain “hallucinogenic effect” in whoever eats it!
Curiosity – Because of the risks of ingesting the food, cooks and chefs in restaurants are exhaustively trained until they gain approval to prepare fugu for consumption. Even so, about 20 people die a year, intoxicated by fish poison!
8. ANT FAROFA
Country/Region – Brazil
The insect appears on the Brazilian rural menu in certain areas of the Southeast. The preferred variety is the içá or saúva – an ant that is said to taste like peanuts. In addition to being consumed in farofas, it can also be toasted with seasoning or frozen to eat throughout the year. And it’s good! Like many other insects, ants are high in protein, low in fat and high in phosphorus.
Curiosity – On the other side of the world, the Chinese use ants to make a wine that is useful in the treatment of rheumatism and in strengthening muscles and bones.
7. BAT IN CASSEROLE
Country/Region – China, Vietnam, Southeast Asia
The bats that are part of the human menu are those that feed on fruits. Chosen for their non-poisonous nature and their healthy diet, fruit bats are low in fat and meat whose texture is compared to that of chickens. In addition to the casserole (a stew with meat, vegetables and potatoes), other good choices (I mean, good for Asian people at least) are the bat soup and lasagna.
Fun fact – Bat meat enthusiasts believe that it increases male sexual potency and the chances of having a long and happy life.
6. STEAM KANGAROO
Country/Region – Australia
The habit of eating kangaroos began with the Australian natives, who would cut the animal into different parts and have them see. Nowadays, the meat of the animal is minced and steamed, with the addition of bacon, salt and pepper to give it a little seasoning. There’s nothing left: even the tail is used to make soup! The taste is compared to that of ostrich meat, a very strong red meat.
Curiosity – Dishes made with kangaroo are sold in more than 900 restaurants, from pizzerias to room service in five-star hotels.
5. DOG SOUP
Country/Region – South Korea, South China, Hong Kong
Here is the controversial side of cultural diversity: for us Westerners, eating this dish is a tremendous dogfight. But among Koreans, the dog is considered quite energetic and, according to belief, improves the sexual performance of men. In addition to the meat of the au-aus, the soup has vegetables and has a strong smell, mainly because of the seasoning – in general, spices such as saffron, cloves and cinnamon.
Curiosity – The sale of dog meat has already been banned because of protests from animal protectors. But in countries like South Korea, enforcement is lax and many restaurants continue to provide the dish.
4. SILKWORM LARVA OMELETTE
Country/Region – Thailand, China
In China, maggots are fried with chopped onion and a thick sauce or mixed into an omelette with chicken eggs. If you don’t like the tender texture of the stuffing, you can also eat the chrysalis, the “package” of the larva, which looks like a crunchy shell like a snack.
Curiosity – In Thailand, after being included in the list of local foods, in 1987, the silkworm chrysalis started to be added to soups in the food of children in Thai schools.
3. MONKEY BRAIN
Country/Region – Africa
Centuries before Indiana Jones, Africans already cultivated the habit of swallowing primate brains. Write down the method of preparation: first, wash the brain (of the animal, of course) with cold water. Then add vinegar or lemon juice, removing membranes and blood vessels from the most superficial layer. Keep it in brine and finally put the delicacy to cook. In all monkey species, the organ is rich in phosphorus, protein and vitamins.
Curiosity – Do you prefer other brains? Try gorilla, considered an aphrodisiac. In rural areas of Europe, pork, lamb and mutton brains are quite successful…
2. TURU BROTH
Country/Region – Brazil
The turu is a mollusk with a hard head and a gelatinous body, it is the thickness of a finger and lives in rotten, fallen trees. Consumed on the island of Marajó and in the interior of the Amazon alive and raw, in broth with flour or in moquecas, the animal is rich in calcium and considered an aphrodisiac. The taste is similar to that of shellfish.
Curiosity – The mangrove monkey is also a fan of turu. Hunters know this and abuse it, peppering the mollusk. When the monkey eats the animal, the hot pepper disorients the primate, making it easy prey for hunters.
1. FRIED CRAB
Country/Region – South America, Southern Africa, Australia
It takes a lot of courage to send that furry beast inside, right? But in the case of the crab or tarantula, appearances are deceiving. Despite being dreadful, the species is not poisonous – and is the most consumed in the world because it is larger than other spiders. The most coveted part is the abdomen of the arachnid. That’s where most of the meat is – in the head are the viscera and in the rest of the body there’s not much else to eat.
Curiosity – The biggest consumers of crab are the Indians in South America and the aborigines in Australia.