2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Ostrich meat is a delicacy that is extracted from the largest bird in the world. The ostrich / Struthio camelus belongs to the order Struthioniformes. It is no coincidence that ostriches are considered to be the largest birds on the planet. They reach a weight of up to 150 kilograms, and sometimes more. When running, this animal can develop a speed of 70 kilometers per hour.
Ostriches are found freely in East Africa and have been raised on farms in many parts of the world, including South Africa and South Australia. Such farms are also found in England, the United States and continental Europe. In recent years, ostrich farms have also appeared in Bulgaria. Representatives of the exotic species are bred in Dolna Banya, the village of Konstantinovo (Varna District), the village of Startsevo (Smolyan District), the village of Brestnitsa (Lovech District). It is called the meat of the third millennium, but has actually been used for food for a long time.
History of ostrich meat
The ostrich is believed to have inhabited the Earth for millions of years, and its flesh has been used for thousands of years. Over time, people have begun to pay more and more attention to it and realize that they can use both the bird's feathers and its oil, which has long been used for various beauty procedures.
The eggs of the bird are also highly valued, from which remarkable omelets are still made today. In fact, in the past, ostrich feathers were seen as a real treasure. Gradually, the skin of the ostrich begins to be sought after. Ostrich meat was also valued during the Babylonian civilization. Data on ostrich farmers in South Africa date from the second half of the eighteenth century.
Several travelers describe how locals take care of tame ostriches that walk. Over the years ostrich meat continued to gain popularity and in 1850 opened a specialized farm in Senegal. A decade later, France also acquired an ostrich farm. And so slowly but surely ostrich meat is settling in European cuisine.
Composition of ostrich meat
Ostrich meat has a very rich composition in which fats and proteins are present. But while its fat content is only 0.03 percent, the amount of protein is as much as 22 percent. This delicacy is a source of selenium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, copper. It also contains vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6 and others.
Characteristics of ostrich meat
You will guess ostrich meat by its red coloration. It is delicate and lean. Some gourmets compare it to beef, noting that ostrich is tastier. This delicacy is superior to pork, lamb, beef, turkey and chicken in a slightly lower fat content. It is an integral part of the menu of the most sophisticated restaurants in the world. Due to its distinctive taste, however, its value is also higher. Unfortunately, this is a reason not everyone can afford it.
Cooking ostrich meat
Ostrich meat It is not very common on the Bulgarian table, but nevertheless it is widely used in world cuisine. It is easy to prepare and subject to any flavoring. It is only important that the skins of the meat are well cleaned before the actual cooking. Ostrich meat tolerates all marinades perfectly, but experienced chefs advise to enrich its taste with white wine or red wine.
Good results are also obtained if the marinade includes a few teaspoons of beer, lemon juice, honey, soy sauce or vinegar. If you are a fan of fragrant steaks, you can sprinkle ostrich meat with spices such as rosemary, sage, black pepper, white pepper, cumin, curry, basil, garlic or others. The appetizing meat can be flavored with cream and small fruits such as blackberries, raspberries, blackcurrants and more.
As mentioned earlier, ostrich meat is easy to cook and can withstand any heat treatment. However, we can not fail to note that the most delicious are specialties that are cooked in a pan, grill or oven. It is used to make great steaks, steaks, casseroles and more. It can also be used in salads, soups and stews. When cooking, care must be taken not to roast the meat too much. It is good to keep its juiciness.
Otherwise, ostrich meat can be combined with all kinds of vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, zucchini, Brussels sprouts, spinach, dock, nettles, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes.
Benefits of ostrich meat
Besides being exotic and delicious, ostrich meat is also useful. Experts advise it to be consumed mostly by people who suffer from high blood pressure, as it has been proven to normalize its values. In addition, ostrich meat is useful in anemia, diabetes and cardiovascular problems. It is also believed to be useful in recent major surgeries.
It is recommended by nutritionists to people who are trying to deal with excess weight because it is low in calories. Another positive property of ostrich meat is that it is good for the eyes. This is due to the high content of zinc in its composition. We remind you that zinc plays an important role in the health of this visual organ.
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Nutritional Benefits Of Ostrich Meat
Ostrich meat has a high nutritional value and contains very little fat and cholesterol, which makes it very suitable for people who want to eat healthily. Unlike the meat of many other birds, ostrich meat is bright red and its structure resembles beef.
Ostrich Meat - Exotic, Tasty And Low In Calories
Ostrich meat refers to exotic products, although it is becoming more popular every day. Today, there are farms that are engaged in raising these birds in many parts of the world. One year after birth, the ostriches can be sent for slaughter.
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