Chefs are always looking for new ingredients, always pioneering new dishes, and meat is often a staple and an important source of protein. However, for some countries, meat is not the only option for protein sources.
In fact, for some countries, while meat may be an important part of a meal, another source of protein is more diverse and more common. insect! In many countries, eating insects is a normal thing.
History shows that insects were already a popular food as early as Roman and Greek times. A recent study shows that more than 2 billion people worldwide eat insects. People in South America, Europe and Asia not only eat insects, but also breed a variety of insects to serve the major restaurants. In addition, 100% of insects are edible, while cattle are only 40% edible. Insects can be eaten in many ways, from snacks to main courses and even desserts.
<h1 class="ql-align-justify" >10 Thailand: crickets</h1>
In Thailand, there are often dishes made of insects, which can be cooked in many different ways, from frying to baking to eating them raw. One of the most popular insect dishes in Thailand is fried crickets.
Most commonly, crickets are sold as fried snacks by vendors, cooked by first frying them in a pan for a few minutes, then seasoning them with Kanayama soy sauce (a form similar to soy sauce) and Thai paprika. Crickets are very popular in Thailand because they are nutritious and because they provide a variety of minerals such as calcium, copper and zinc, although these are also found in beef, crickets are significantly cheaper than beef. It is recommended to accompany beer when eating fried crickets, which is the most popular pairing in Thailand, and it is said that fried crickets taste similar to popcorn.
<h1 class="ql-align-justify" >9 China: Scorpion</h1>
In China, some of the best delicacies are insects as raw materials. Insects can be practiced in a variety of ways, from knotweeds to roasted bee pupae. The tradition of eating insects has been popular in China for a long time, dating back to several dynasties ago. For many people, insects are a cheap ingredient that provides the same protein as chicken and pork.
Live scorpions are usually choked to death in salted water and then fried. The taste is extremely delicious, crisp but not firm, and the crisp is delicious. It is also a famous dish in Shandong. Scorpions contain histamine-like scorpion toxins, as well as hemolytic proteins, which are toxic components similar to bee venom, but are destroyed by high temperatures and reduced in toxicity, so fried scorpions are not very toxic. Scorpions also have the effect of suppressing spasms, extinguishing winds, and attacking poisons. It can cure sore poison, rheumatism and other diseases. That's why this dish has endured for so many years.
<h1 class="ql-align-justify" >8 Japan: Wasp</h1>
In Japan, insect-eating-themed celebrations are not uncommon. In fact, in most rural areas of Japan, there are festivals celebrating such events, the most famous of which is the Kushihara Wasp Festival.
There are many ways to handle wasp cuisine in Japan, one of which is to crush the wasps and make a variety of sauces with different flavors for bibimbap. Another method is to cook the wasps and put them into the agar jelly to make wasp pudding. Another practice is to soak the wasps in ginger and place it on top of the sushi.
In Japan, wasp biscuits are a wasp-specific practice. These cookies look a lot like American cookies, but they're full of surprises. Of course, we may not be used to eating these foods, although they do look a lot like biscuits, and if you think that the black things on the biscuits look like raisins, you are very wrong, and when you eat them, you will find that they are bitter, and there are wings inside.
<h1 class="ql-align-justify" >7 Mexico: Bed bugs</h1>
The history of Mexicans using insects in their dishes dates back to when indigenous tribes occupied this part of Mexico. Edible insects are still easy to find outside of Mexico.
At the same time, some high-end restaurants in big cities tend to use insects as their signature dish. Bed bugs are a common insect in Mexico, whether live or cooked, people love to eat, people believe that bed bugs have medicinal properties, as well as aphrodisiac properties, as well as contain a lot of protein and minerals.
Bed bugs can be eaten dipped in sauce, and only some people can tolerate the taste of bed bugs. Still others roast bed bugs and put them in tacos for meat or toppings. They can also be made into pasta. Bed bugs are said to have a spicy taste, and if you can tolerate the taste and smell, you'll find it much tastier than durian.
<h1 class="ql-align-justify" >6 Indonesia: Dragonfly</h1>
Dragonflies are natural enemies of mosquitoes, and where dragonflies are present, you don't have to worry about mosquitoes. These mosquito-fed insects help drive away mosquitoes and prevent mosquito bites, but dragonflies have another role. For Indonesians, dragonflies are a very tempting snack.
It's as simple as dipping a stick in sap and putting it on the ground, and the dragonfly will land on it on its own. Dragonflies will generally take off their wings. The dragonflies are then either cooked directly or simply fried before being served. Some people say that the taste of dragonflies and crabs are very similar, and the nutritional value of the two is similar.
<h1 class="ql-align-justify" >5 Zimbabwe: Caterpillar</h1>
Caterpillars are a protein-rich food that many Asian countries have used as an important alternative to protein. In Zimbabwe, Mapp is a caterpillar larvae that is not only beautiful but also delicious. The Mapple worm is part of the daily diet of many people in Zimbabwe's rural and urban communities. These worms can be cooked in a number of different ways. Before the Mapple worms are cooked, they are first collected and squeezed until there are no green internal organs inside. They are then left in the sun to dry. Mapple worms can be dried and flattened like potato chips, smoked and added to sauces, or used as an ingredient in a stew. The Mapple worm tastes lighter than anything else, but it's rich in protein, making it a cheap and beautiful ingredient that is revered by most people.
<h1 class="ql-align-justify" >4 Brazil: ants</h1>
Ants are everywhere, underground, on walls, in forests, inside cities. In some parts of Brazil, ants are considered a delicacy. In October and November of each year, the Brazilians of Silvijas hold ant celebrations.
Ants are not only considered a delicacy, but also rich in protein, calcium, iron and vitamins. Because they are small, they are often used as accessories, as a topping to a dish, or directly as a simple snack. Ants are cooked differently and can be fried or fried. Usually they are made together with green vegetables in salads.
In Severias, ants are cooked and dipped in chocolate to make a delicious snack. In Brazil, ants should taste like mint. In other countries, ants should have different tastes, which can be bitter or sweet.
<h1 class="ql-align-justify" >3 Kenya: Termites</h1>
Termites can cause serious damage if left uncontrolled, but termites in the house are somewhat useful. In Kenya, these termites are taken from the wood inside and sold in pounds.
Termite populations are now beginning to decrease in Kenya because of the greater demand for termites. Many Kenyans began collecting termites for food and money. In Kenya, the easiest way to cook termites is to roast them over an open flame. Others add termites to polenta, and some even add termites to tea.
In smaller rural areas, it has become a tradition for villagers to grind termites and feed them to their babies, believing that the rich nutrients provided by termites help children grow. Like other insects, termites can be fried in oil, not to mention crispy to eat.
<h1 class="ql-align-justify" >2 Korea: Silkworm pupae</h1>
Silkworms are internationally famous for their silk-producing capacity, and in Korea, silkworms not only bring textile convenience, their pupae are also used as delicious street food, these silkworm pupae can also be made into cans, but before being canned, they must be cooked and seasoned.
Eating silkworm pupae has been around in Korea for a long time, and many street vendors cook silkworm pupae, and the taste is unforgettable and not to be missed. Not only is silkworm pupae becoming more and more popular on the streets of South Korea, but it can also be bought online and delivered to your doorstep, when you can pair it with a glass of white wine that may make you unforgettable.
<h1 class="ql-align-justify" >1 Israel: Locusts</h1>
Often considered a bad omen, locusts are often associated with disasters, and locusts herald worse things to come. Despite their bad reputation, the Israeli people have found a way to make locusts a good sign. It's about turning them into food.
In Israel, locusts have overproduced and flooded, so turning them into delicacies conveniently solves the locust plague on the one hand, and also solves the problem of food and clothing for people on the other hand. Locusts can be eaten differently, but the most common is fried – whether in a pan or in oil. This is done to preserve their "crunchy" taste. Before frying, the locusts can be rolled into flour, spices and garlic, or fried in a pan and sprinkled with spices to make the locusts more delicious. People liken the taste of locusts to shrimp, they are rich in protein and nutrients, and the taste is superb.