Weird dishes: From steamed caterpillars to grilled caterpillars

We often know famous dishes from different cultures such as pizza, sushi, or steak. However, the culinary world still has strange and unique dishes that we have never heard of. This opens the door to new and challenging culinary adventures.

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Here are some quirky dishes that will surprise you

Balut - Philippines

Balut is a Filipino specialty dish, famous for its uniqueness and combination of duck eggs and balut. Balut has become a symbol of Philippine cuisine and is considered an indispensable part of festivals, meetings, or special events.

Balut is made from duck eggs that are about 17-21 days old, before forming into a duckling. When eating, you will enjoy both the yolk and white of the egg, along with different parts of the duck fetus. When eating, you can eat directly from the eggshell or put the eggs in a bowl, pour in fish sauce, and add seasoning according to personal taste. This fish sauce and spices are important highlights to bring a special flavor to balut.

Balut is not only a delicious dish but is also considered a part of Philippine culinary art. How to prepare and serve balut requires sophistication and long-standing skills. Balut processing is not only based on traditional knowledge but is also passed down from generation to generation.

It is believed that balut has many nutritional benefits and health-enhancing effects. Balut contains many important nutrients such as protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber, and anti-bacterial fatty acids. Not only is it delicious, but it's also an important part of a healthy diet.

If you have the opportunity to come to the Philippines, don't miss the opportunity to try balut. This is a unique and typical culinary experience of this country. Whether you agree to enjoy balut or not, it is an indispensable part of the diverse and unique culinary culture of the Philippines.

Sannakji - Korea

Sannakji is a traditional Korean dish, especially popular in Jeonju notes. This is a unique and interesting dish, often enjoyed at family gatherings or when you want to experience something new and challenging in terms of cuisine.

Sannakji is made from fresh octopus. After being carefully selected, the octopus is chopped into small pieces but still alive. This creates a state where the body is still moving and radiating much life.

When eating Sannakji, people often accept that the octopus is still frozen. The small pieces of octopus will automatically move on the plate and inside the mouth. Therefore, enjoying Sannakji requires diners to be careful and cautious when chewing and swallowing each mouthful. This is a fun and unique experience for dining.

To add more excitement, people often eat Sannakji with sweet and spicy sauce. This sauce adds a rich and hearty layer of flavor to the octopus. Raw vegetables such as fish mint, bok choy, and green onions are also often added to create a balanced and delicious dish.

Although Sannakji may sound strange and challenging to many people, for Koreans, this is a traditional dish that carries meaning and thought about being in harmony with nature and life.

Haggis - Scotland

Haggis is a famous traditional Scottish dish. This is a stew consisting of the intestines, lungs, and fatty leaves of poultry or animals, mixed with spices and wheat. Haggis has a delicious, attractive, and very special taste.

The main ingredients of haggis are sheep's intestines and lungs, but you can also use duck, pig, or cow intestines. These parts are thoroughly stewed in a sheepskin anus, creating a crispy outer shell and a soft, smooth interior.

To taste, haggis is seasoned with a blend of onions, garlic, black pepper, and other spices. Wheat is also added as an ingredient to bind the entire ingredient. Despite its unusual ingredients such as tripe and lung, haggis nevertheless has a truly unique and delicate flavor.

Haggis is often served with mashed potatoes and green vegetables and is often prepared on special occasions such as Burns Day - an important Scottish folk holiday. During the ceremony, a poem commemorating poet Robert Burns will be read before the haggis is cut and served to all in attendance.

Haggis is an important cultural icon of Scotland and has become a recognizable dish of the country. If you have the chance, try it once to experience the unique and rich taste of haggis during your trip to Scotland.

Shirako - Japan

Shirako is a traditional dish from Japan and is rich and unique in nature. Shirako is made from the testicular glands of male fish, usually grouper or flounder.

Although the idea of eating testicular glands may make many people uncomfortable, shirako is considered a delicacy and is enjoyed by many people in Japan. Shirako has a smooth, creamy taste and is often used as a side dish at parties or cuisine in Japan.

Shirako is often prepared in many different ways. One traditional way is to cook ponzu sauce (a traditional Japanese sauce) and enjoy it with sashimi. Shirako can also be gently fried or steamed to enjoy its wonderful flavor. If you want to try shirako, you should enjoy it with sake to create a wonderful experience.

Shirako is considered part of high-class cuisine in Japan. It is considered a delicious and quite special dish for people who are not familiar with the taste of testicular glands. The Japanese believe that shirako has many health benefits, containing lots of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, especially zinc and selenium.

Shirako was once a dish whose sustainability was questioned due to the decline in grouper stocks. However, today there are many efforts to ensure sustainability in grouper exploitation, helping to preserve and maintain shirako supplies.

In short, shirako is a unique and interesting dish from Japan. While it may not be to everyone's taste, shirako has great flavors and the country's signature culinary style.

Fried Tarantula - Campuchia

Fried Tarantula (fried cockroach wing spider) is a unique traditional dish of Cambodia. This is a familiar dish and is loved by locals as well as international tourists.

Tarantula, a large spider, was chosen to make this dish. They are slightly contaminated in nature, but through processing, this toxin is completely destroyed, becoming a delicious and safe dish to enjoy.

The process of preparing Fried Tarantula begins with the spiders being washed and then grilled directly in hot oil. The baking process helps the spider become crispy and golden in color, creating an attractive appearance. When fried, spiders will have a sweet, crunchy taste, mixed with a bit of saltiness, creating an interesting culinary experience.

People often enjoy Fried Tarantula with soy sauce and raw vegetables such as bean sprouts, carrots, and lettuce to add flavor. This dish is often served on a plate or tray, suitable for sharing with friends and family on special occasions.

Despite its strange shape, Fried Tarantula is prized for its unique and special flavor. Some people describe the taste of this dish as fried chicken or fried shrimp, satisfying everyone's taste.

For international tourists, enjoying this dish is not only a new culinary experience but also an opportunity to explore culture and enjoy unique Cambodian dishes. Fried Tarantula is a cult from southern Cambodia, where naturally occurring tarantulas are very common, and this dish demonstrates the creativity and culinary thinking of the local people.

In short, Fried Tarantula is a unique and interesting Cambodian dish. With its characteristic flavor and unique preparation, this dish is not only an important part of Cambodian cuisine but also creates a unique culinary experience for visitors.

Escamoles - Mexico

Escamoles is a traditional and unique Mexican dish, also known as the "caviar of the Americas". This dish is made from the eggs of honey ants (there is social life in the ant's nest and is formed from the ground) and it is commonly found in some parts of Mexico and the northwest of the country.

Escamoles have a unique and rich flavor. They are small in size, white in color, and have a caviar-like structure, creating excitement for those who enjoy them. When processed, honey and eggs are washed and then steamed or cooked with lemongrass, garlic, and onions before being presented on the table. This dish is often enjoyed with tortillas, helping to increase the deliciousness and richness of the dish.

Escamoles are a luxurious and highly valued dish in Mexico. They are considered a symbol of creativity and essence in this country's cuisine. However, harvesting these honey ant eggs requires diligence and ingenuity, so this dish has also become a rare dish to be found and enjoyed. People who have tried escamoles say they have a unique flavor, like a mixture of milk and butter, with a mild, velvety taste.

This dish not only captivates the upper class in Mexico but also attracts the attention of tourists from many parts of the world. Once you try it once, you will definitely experience one of the most delicious and unique Mexican dishes.

Below are the strangest dishes in the world. Would you dare to try them when you set foot in these countries? Please let us know your opinion.

From: baoyen