10 Meat Dishes That Will Make You Go Caveman
Around the world there are many delicious meat dishes that would make anyone want to go caveman. The following dishes are highlights from ten different countries. If ever you wanted to be a vegetarian, this may change your mind.
As humans we instinctively crave protein. Family gatherings usually involve some sort of tantalizing meat dish taking us back to our primal ways. All of the meats below can be purchased in the United States and are similar in taste to the meats many are accustomed to.
Our meatastic adventure begins in China and will entice our tastebuds as we travel around the world seeking out these amazing dishes.
- Yak — China, Lijiang
Yak meat is a very lean meat that is considered a healthier option over beef, pork and even skinless chicken. Yak meat jerky can be found at street vendors located in Lijiang China, which is in the Yunnan Province. It can be used in a variety of dishes from a stir fry to burgers.
2) Tandoori Chicken — India
Tandoori chicken is one of the most popular dishes in India. After marinating in a yoghurt and spice mixture overnight, it gets cooked in a Tandoor oven that reaches approximately 480°F. It is served with Tandoor Rotis or Naan bread. This dish is easy enough to make at home on the grill.
3) Kangaroo — Australia
Kangaroo meat is extremely healthy, with about only 2% fat, and it is considered part of the bushfood diet. The tail is put directly into a fire to prepare for cooking. Once the hair is charred and scrapped from the tail, it is wrapped in foil and put back into the fire to continue cooking. The skin is removed from the tail prior to serving.
4) Currywurst — Germany
Currywurst is a pork sausage that gets steamed and then fried, sliced and topped with a curry ketchup. In September 2009 the Duetsches Currywurst Museum in Berlin was opened in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Currywurst. The museum estimates that 800 million people in Germany, 70 million just in Berlin, eat Currywurst each year.
5) Méchoui — Morocco
Méchoui is a whole young lamb which is roasted on a spit barbeque style. The meat is sprinkled with Ras el Hanout, stitched up and skewered on a tree branch. It then cooks for 4–5 hours in an earthen oven covered by a lid made of either mud, clay or wet sand. When the lamb is done the lid is cracked open and the cooked lamb is removed. It is served with sea salt and cumin.
6) Fiejoada — Portugal
Fiejoada originated from Portugal and is the National dish of Brazil. It is usually prepared one to two days in advance and is meant to be eaten throughout the day with a large group of family and friends. The dish is made with a variety of meats, such as pork and beef trimmings, ribs, bacon, 2 types of smoked sausage, beef jerky and black beans. It is traditionally cooked over low heat in a clay pot and the type of bean can vary by region.
7) Fårikål — Norway
Fårikål is the National dish of Norway and is comprised of mutton with bone, cabbage, whole black peppercorns and wheat flour. It cooks for hours in a casserole dish and is typically served with whole potatoes boiled in the skins. The largest portion of Fårikål was made in Spikersuppa Oslo Norway and holds a Guinness World record, weighing in at 594.2 kilos (1309 lbs.).
8) Alligator — United States
The American alligator is one of the two living species of alligator. The meat is very high in protein, having twice as much as beef, and it has no saturated fat. Many people fry alligator however, it can also be roasted, barbequed, used in stews and made into sausage and burgers.
9) Jokbal — Korea
Jokbal is a dish from Kora made from pig’s trotters. The trotters get simmered in boiling water containing vegetables and spices until tender. After an addition of soy sauce, sugar and water they continue to simmer until they are fully cooked. Once done, the meat is pulled from the bones and served with a fermented shrimp sauce.
10) Cabrito al Pastor — Mexico
Cabrito al Pastor is a very young goat, between the age of 30–40 days, that is salted and spiced prior to being put over hot coals to cook. Tortillas, beans and salsa are served alongside the meat.
No matter where we are in the world, meat is available everywhere and people are eating some amazing food. The dishes above can all be prepared at home with a little work. Be adventurous and tap into your wild side, you may find that you are a caveman through and through.