Do they eat tarantulas in Cambodia?
In Cambodia, fried tarantulas are a delicacy. Often rolled in sugar or garlic, the spiders are eaten by the handful out of street vendors’ carts by local residents and adventurous tourists alike.
Are tarantulas healthy to eat?
It might sound unbelievable, but people have been chowing down on tarantulas for their health benefits, like protein, and for their taste. Apparently, tarantulas are pretty good for you. Fried and cooked with garlic, Cambodian chef Ouch Ratana says tarantulas are “a perfect snack with some cold beer or rice wine.”
What does tarantula taste like?
The taste has been described as bland, “rather like a cross between chicken and cod”, with a contrast in texture from a crispy exterior to a soft centre. The legs contain little flesh, while the head and body have “a delicate white meat inside”.
What parts of a tarantula can you eat?
You should carefully crack the hard shell to reach the meat inside which is lean and tasty, a bit similar to chicken. You’ll wish there was more when you taste it. Finally, there’s the spider’s butt. Have in mind that it’s quite bitter and most foreigners will skip it.
Why do people in Cambodia eat spiders?
They’re sustainable and in most places where they are a staple, they’re eaten because they are tasty and not because of people’s desperate hunger. Unlike the humble cricket, spiders aren’t a common snack anywhere but have become associated with Cambodian (Khmer) food because of their media value.
What do grasshoppers taste like?
Grasshoppers, termites and grubs are not typical American cuisine, but many cultures eat insects with great relish. Fried grasshoppers taste like sardines. French-fried ants (imported from Colombia) taste like beef jerky. A praying mantis, fried over an open fire, tastes like shrimp and raw mushrooms.
How do you prepare tarantulas to eat?
Use a sharp knife to cut each spider in two lengthwise. Sprinkle with the paprika and serve. Encourage your guests to try the legs first and, if still hungry, to nibble on the meat-filled mesothorax, avoiding the spider’s paired fangs, which are tucked away in the head region.
Is it healthy to eat spiders?
Today, spiders — rich in protein, folic acid and zinc — are considered a delicacy and sold in markets and restaurants across Cambodia. The practice has also encouraged a lively tourist trade.
Do people in Cambodia eat spiders?
While the popular story is that spiders are a traditional foodstuff in Cambodia, there’s no evidence at all that they were popular or eaten as a snack until the rise of tourism in Cambodia in the mid-1990s. As with all good tourist food, they come packaged with a thin veneer of authenticity that is manufactured.