What Does Elephant Taste Like?
Most wild animal meats, along with elephant meat, is difficult to procure even if you express the desire to taste it and are willing to pay a fabulous sum for that. However, it has been eaten in Africa for many centuries. So, what does elephant taste like? Let me try to give you a brief idea about it.
To begin with, elephants are herbivores and not meat eaters. From the information I’ve gathered from books about wild animals, elephants consume grasses or fruits which are soft and fibrous, not sinewy.
The meat of elephants is believed to have a similar taste to beef and veal However, it has been observed that the taste of elephant is gamier than the domestic equivalents.
Elephant meat is a dense and fibrous, which makes it difficult to chew.
It is mildly porky, but, it has a more robust flavor than lamb or beef because its muscles are not given as much exercise.
The flavor is often compared to that of venison.
To make it more enjoyable, it’s typically served with a marinade or sauce.
The most commonly used ingredients in these sauces are onions and garlic, which aid in removing any gaminess from the meat.
How to Cook Elephant Meat?
The hunters kills elephants, and then remove the ivory from them. These are sold in international markets for a huge price.
The meat is smoked over the day on grills, which are powered by branches of trees before being cooked on charcoal to serve during their way to the town.
When cooking elephant meat, it is important to debone as well as cut off the carcass prior to cooking.
For instance, it could be cooked on an open grill, then laid out sideways on a stand.
There are a variety of ways to cook elephant flesh. The most popular cooking techniques focus on simmering or boiling. The dish is enhanced by oils and salt.
One of the most exciting aspects of the elephant’s meat is the fact that it contains no natural fat since it has a very low metabolic rate due to its huge size. This means that it is generally bland and has a hint of the gamey.
As with other red meats, elephants can be cooked or baked with a variety of spices: basil, garlic oregano, cumin, oregano rosemary and sage.
Do people consume elephant flesh even in current times?
It’s not wrong to note that nowadays almost the entire species of elephants hunted to satisfy the needs of a few people around the globe. The consumption of elephant meat is common in nations like those of the Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and those in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In several of these countries, elephants were hunted to get their ivory and tusks the meat was also thought as a valuable by-product and was offered by hunter. The meat of elephants was also used as a food source for the hunters as to reward them for their efforts.
How do you prepare the meat of an elephant?
This recipe has come to us by the courtesy of Lee Pribble, in the Ashland Presbyterian Church’s 105th Anniversary Cookbook.
Ingredients
1 elephant
2 cups salt
2 cups pepper
Directions
Cut elephant into 1 inch cubes (allow around 72 days to complete this task) regularly adding pinches of pepper and salt. Cook over a Kerosene fire for about 4 weeks at 465°F.
If more than 3,800 guests are expected at the dinner, two (2) rabbits can be added. Note: This should only be done in the event of necessity, since many people are not happy to see hares in their food.
Lee did not specify African or Asian elephants, so, I’m not sure which was more easily accessible within Ashland, Ohio in the late 70’s.
If more than 3800 people are expected at the dinner, two (2) rabbits could be added. Note: This should only be done when absolutely necessary, since most people don’t like to have hares in their food.
Wrapping up
What Does Elephant Taste Like?
Elephant meat isn’t a common culinary delight, particularly in the U.S. However, it doesn’t mean that it’s not tasty.
We are here to talk about a question that people, often out of curiosity, ask: what does elephant taste like? And I have merely tried to provide as much information as possible to you. I, for one, don’t endorse eating elephant meat nor support any one doing this.
However, if are interested in knowing what elephant meat tastes like, and the method of preparation, this post might help you. But then, as I said, this is merely an academic exercise!