Camel is an amazing animal.
It has various odd qualities, not the least of which is that it tastes like beef and lamb.
It is the only animal that can live without water for 15 days, and it has been domesticated for millennia in many areas of the globe.
In this blog article, we’ll go over all you need to know about camels, including what they taste like and how to prepare them.
Contents
What exactly is Camel?
Camel has been utilized for a variety of purposes throughout history.
Camels are a simple method to move huge cargo across rugged terrain without having to feed them or worry about keeping fresh water available.
The hump stores fat, which may help the beast survive when its food supplies run out.
A camel may eat everything from tree leaves to stones if they are hungry while wandering their area in search of nourishment.
But, in recent years, camels have become a cost-effective source of food for nations that rely on oil production and have little agricultural land.
They can offer us with milk, meat, wool, and transportation while being friendly to our environment in ways that no other species can.
They are a low-fat protein source with twice the calorie amount of beef and three times the caloric content of chicken.
Is Camel Meat Safe to Eat?
You’ve probably never heard of eating camel.
Nonetheless, some people in the Middle East consider it a delicacy, ranking it higher than beef steak, lamb chops, or chicken wings.
Some would even argue that it tastes better than pig bacon.
Camel meat is widely consumed in North Africa, Southern Asia, and the Middle East.
Camel flesh is occasionally considered a delicacy in Saudi Arabia, and may be acquired at special restaurants that provide Camel Meat Buffets on various days throughout the year.
Dromedaries are employed for these occasions since people have tamed them for milk, wool, and other things such as dung for a long time.
What would you try if you could try any part of a camel? Would you eat camel feet boiled or roasted with bone marrow sauce? Or how about going all out and eating some roasted ribs (without the bones)? To get your morning started correctly, try smoked camel bacon.
Camel Health and Nutritional Advantages
The camel is a patient animal that can thrive in areas with little vegetation.
They can also digest prickly vegetation that other animals cannot.
Camels are an animal that is sometimes disregarded as a source of food and nourishment.
Camel milk is high in fat and protein, and it provides nutrients to the calf as it emerges from the stomach following a 13-month gestation period.
It includes up to twice as much Vitamin C as cow’s milk, as well as iron, which transports oxygen throughout the body and helps the immune system.
Camel milk is high in vitamins A, D, and E, which may help you stay healthy throughout pregnancy and protect you from asthma, cancer, and heart disease.
Camel meat outperforms other red meats in a variety of ways.
It has been demonstrated to have lower saturated fat and cholesterol levels than chicken, beef, hog, or lamb.
Selenium and zinc are also abundant in the meat.
It contains iron, making it a useful treatment for those suffering from anemia owing to low hemoglobin levels in their blood.
What Is the Taste of Camel?
Camel meat tastes similar to beef but is more gamy.
It’s also quite lean, so if not properly cooked, it may be rough.
Depending on the age of the animal when slaughtered, the taste is comparable to that of deer or lamb in both texture and appearance.
Camel, like other red meats, has an iron-like quality that some people dislike; others say it adds richness to recipes like stews where other components are utilized for flavour.
Since their diet consists mostly of grasses rather than grains, juvenile camels often have fewer gamey tastes than older animals.
Camel meat may be prepared in a number of ways, depending on the cut.
Ground camel, for example, may be used in burgers, meatloaf, tacos, and kebabs where the meat is blended with onions, garlic, and spices such as cumin, chili powder, or curry before cooking.
Any cuts that will be roasted or grilled must also be bone-free.
Because of their high calcium content, they do not break down throughout the procedure.
Due of its leanness, camel is often served with sauces or other fatty substances.
The gamier taste of camel is sometimes likened to that of venison, however there are notable distinctions between the two forms of meat.
Venison has a harsher, drier flavor than most other game meats, while camels have a milder flavor that many people like for cooking with a variety of spices.
How Does Camel Milk Taste?
Camel milk has long been a favorite among many people.
Camels were revered as status symbols in the Middle East in the early 1200s because they could produce significant amounts of milk.
It has a fairly mild taste and may be drunk both hot and cold.
But that’s not all: camel milk was also recognized for being high in vitamin C.
While there are few locations where you can purchase this sort of dairy product nowadays, some believe that it tastes better than cow milk.
Some claim it is smoother and sweeter, with none of the sour aftertaste associated with normal dairy products.
Camel milk, in general, has a low fat level while being a healthy beverage.
Camel milk is also ideal for individuals who are lactose intolerant or have other allergies to cow’s milk since it contains no traces of whey or casein.
How Do You Prepare Camel Meat?
Many people are unaware that camel meat is high in protein and has a delicate, flavorful taste.
There are several methods to prepare camel meat, but they all have one thing in common: they must be cooked slowly and properly.
The first method is to roast the beef for 45 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit with salt and pepper, or until its internal temperature reaches 155 degrees Fahrenheit (68 C).
It may also be grilled on skewers. If you wish to skewer veggies, don’t use too much oil while grilling them.
The second alternative is to broil the meat for around 15 minutes on each side on a hot grill.
If you don’t have a large enough grill to cook the camel meat all at once, rotate it while it’s cooking to ensure it’s uniformly cooked through.
The third approach is to make kebabs by threading chunks of camel onto metal rods or skewers; this manner, they will roast faster than if left in an oven unattended.
Before grilling them, make sure they’re well-oiled with olive oil or other healthy fats.
Then, flip every now and then until both sides are medium-rare (which should take about six minutes).
If you’re making a stew, use around two pounds of camel flesh per person.
Cover with water or broth, then add your chosen herbs and spices.
Cover and simmer for at least an hour, or until the vegetables are soft.
How Much Does Camel Meat Cost?
Camel meat costs around $20 per pound, which isn’t bad when compared to other exotic meats.
Camel meat may be found at specialist grocery stores or butcher shops that specialize in game meats.
Though you may only want a few pounds of the animal for your dish, you may have difficulty locating an economical cut because it is normally sold by weight rather than by the piece or number of pieces as other forms of meat are.
Where Can I Get Camel Meat?
Camel meat is becoming increasingly popular in the United States, Japan, and Europe; for example, demand has climbed by 20% since 2012, when Australia’s Meramist firm boosted production to meet this rising market.
A California-based Exotic Meat Market owner claimed a three thousand percent increase in sales of camel meat in 2016.
Due to the expanding demand for exotic meats, the other Exotic Meat Market in the United States, situated in Chicago, has also witnessed a 100% growth since January 2016.
When it comes to meat, it seems that individuals are prepared to pay a premium for diversity.
If you’re looking for superior cuts of camel meat, try out Meramist Company (Australia) and Exotic Meats (U.S).
Conclusion
To summarize, camel meat is a fascinating and unique culinary option.
It turns out that camel tastes a lot like beef.
If you just tasted one slice of each side by side, you could have trouble identifying them different.
The main distinction is that the taste varies depending on how it is prepared and the spices used in the dish.
Consider making your favorite recipe using ground camels rather of beef.
Who knows, maybe this may become a popular trend among foodies worldwide.
Give it a go the next time you have the opportunity.
FAQs
Is camel meat chewy?
Camel meat is chewy because it originates from working animals rather than pampered feedlot cattle produced expressly for its flesh.
Why is camel meat not popular?
Camel meat, unlike beef, is seldom marketed aged. Since there is “no history of maturing meat in the Middle East,” according to Helou, and also because the flesh would get too dry: “It’s a really difficult animal,” Webb adds.
What are the benefits of eating camel meat?
As compared to other red meats, camel meat contains low cholesterol levels, a high concentration of minerals such as sodium, iron, zinc, potassium, copper, and magnesium, and a high vitamin C content. Camel meat is also rich in fatty acids, enzymes, and protective proteins.
What is the quality of camel meat?
Camel meat has been shown to have less fat and ash, greater moisture, and comparable protein amounts when compared to red meat from other domestic animals (Kadim et al. 2008). Camel meat is considered as rough and gritty in flavor when compared to other animal foods (Kadim et al.
Can you buy camel meat in the US?
Camel meat is sold in marketplaces to speciality meat wholesalers after the camels have been killed. These businesses import into the United States to sell to small vendors, groceries, and restaurants. Sierra Meat & Seafood Co, based in Reno, Nevada, is one such enterprise.
What does camel meat taste similar to?
Camel meat, at its finest, tastes similar to lean beef. Nevertheless, some slices might be rough, and the meat from an elderly camel can taste gamey.
Which country eats most camel meat?
Camel meat is mostly consumed in Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, and other dry places where other protein sources are unavailable or camel meat has a long cultural tradition.
What is camel meat called?
Camel loin is a camel meat cut made from the tissue along the dorsal side of the rib cage.