Bizarre Foods In India?

Faye1232212

Faye1232212

New Member
Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmerman is a show I love to watch often. Recently an episode came on and their travel destination was India. If you know anything about the show, he basically eats foods that are considered bizarre to American standards. On this particular episode Andrew was walking through a market with every kind of food you can and can't imagine. It was amazing to see the variety of food they offered. Is this commonplace in India to have such markets? I'm planning my trip, I want to make sure that I can experience this. Where can I do that in India? Feedback much appreciated!
 
Even though I never tried any bizarre food, I can point out a few of them below :

- I heard that people of Goa and Sikkim eat frog legs. They believe that it is has some medicinal quality to cure stomach diseases.
- Chapra is a very unique chutney being used by people of Chattisgarh. What makes it so special is that it is made of red ants and their eggs.
- In Kohima, Nagaland you can find snail stew, steamed hornet larvae and silkworm curry on the street food stalls.
- In Meghalaya you can find a dish called Doh Kheh. It is nothing but steamed pig's brain.
 
Here are some exotic/bizarre dishes from India:

1. Jadoh - Rice dish cooked with either pig or chicken blood. It is popular among the Jaintia tribes of the North East India,
2. Nahkham - Very stinky dish made of fish, vegetables and distilled ashes.
3. Dogs, spiders, pork, beef, crabs, cats, chicken and even elephants are considered a delicacy in Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur’s tribal communities.
4. Eri polu - Silk worm!
 
I have never seen or heard of the show bizarre foods with Andrew Zimmerman. Wow and whew to me most of the dishes y’all have described do not sound appetizing or appealing in any way. I do not like frog legs or snail; I don’t think I would like ants no matter what they were mixed with. Pig’s brain, cats, dogs, spiders, and steamed hornet are just absolutely out of the question as far as a food I would enjoy swallowing.
I love to try new and different foods yet those are not something I would desire. I do not eat wild game and just do not think I would enjoy elephant either. I do believe y’all have convinced me I am more of a “casual spicy” rice and vegetable with a few other surprise more natural ingredients opposed to the bizarre foods suggested. Thanks for sharing but no thanks I will pass on eating these bizarre foods.
 
You are a MUCH more brave person than I, @Faye1232212 ! I have to say I am pretty timid when it comes to trying new dishes when I travel. Don't get me wrong - I love food, I love cooking, and I love trying new things - but I try to stick to things that are still close to the walls of my comfort zone, rather than trying anything too out there!
 
I can't even imagine eating those bizarre foods in my wildest dreams. I can't even eat non-veg food as I am a pure vegan. But we are living in a world where good and bad coexists and that is a reality. But in the case of a survival mode I may eat these foods if there are no other options available.

After all why we should punish ourselves eating those nasty foods when a lot of beautiful dishes are available around all of us.
 
travelguide said:
Chapra is a very unique chutney being used by people of Chattisgarh. What makes it so special is that it is made of red ants and their eggs.
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I watched a program on Lok sabha TV channel about tribal people and they showed how this chutney is prepared. The tribal lady just crushed ants and their eggs and made a paste out of it.

briannagodess said:
elephants are considered a delicacy in Nagaland
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I know Naga people have some very out of the ordinary dishes but I didint know they eat Elephant meat too. I was under the impression that Elephants are a protected species in India and also beef is probably banned too.
 
Tanmaya said:
I watched a program on Lok sabha TV channel about tribal people and they showed how this chutney is prepared. The tribal lady just crushed ants and their eggs and made a paste out of it.

I know Naga people have some very out of the ordinary dishes but I didint know they eat Elephant meat too. I was under the impression that Elephants are a protected species in India and also beef is probably banned too.
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My grandmother once told me about the benefits of these tiny ants. It is said that they are good for a clear vision. I don't know why. As per them ants have some medicinal properties.

Elephants are protected animals in India. It is illegal to kill elephants for anything. In fact nowadays rules are very strict. Government of Kerala is even planning to put a ban on use of elephants during festivals. It is on hold due to religious sentiments. I think these animals need to be protected at any cost at least for the survival of humans because both are interconnected.
 
I love the show Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern. 90 percent of what he tries I would easily pass on. I've had frogs legs from Goa and they are a real nice treat. I've had them before from other travels but what made these different were the deep fried and spicy roast styles of cooking. I was told they may be a bit harder to find because of a ban trying to protect the frog population, so you may need to link up with some people with connections like that. I wouldn't eat elephant, no matter how adventurous I became. Peace-loving animals like elephants just makes the heart grow fonder.
 
I absolutely love Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmerman! Zimmerman has done several India specials and he always hits the markets. I really enjoy watching how he is not stuck up and just hangs out with everyday people. I personally don't enjoy bizarre foods, but do love Indian food and I'm always open to trying new things as long as they smell good. Indian food is just so vibrant, spicy, and simply different. In regards to markets I know of one in the city of Kolkata. It's called New Market and has been around for a very long time. I wish you a safe trip and hope you enjoy your travels throughout India.
 
I'm also not really into eating the weird and wonderful creatures so in that respect, I think I'll leave that to you more adventurous people!

As long as I know what I'm eating and can be sure that the meat is what it's supposed to be and nothing strange, I'll be quite happy!
 
Yeah, but the question is: what we call bizarre food? There are certain cultures where they eat crickets, or raw meat and skin. It's more like "bizarre food for western people".
 
It's certainly true that what one person calls bizarre would be classed as normal to somebody else depending on were they're from.

I think most countries will have food that won't appeal to everybody, and even here in the UK there are meals that a lot of people won't eat unless they're from that particular part of the country.
 
Yeah I always like to hear that someone mentions: eww weird food. But food types and product types can change even in small distances. For example I just move to one European country to other. And the amount of diary product changes I experienced is mad. I think that people really should step out of their comfort zones.
 
I agree that people should experience different foods and cultures but at the same time trying something for the first time can be a bit daunting.

It's alright trying something and if you don't like it then you obviously don't have it again, but when it comes to food and you order a meal you've never had, it comes and you don't like it, it can appear rude to order something else, especially in a foreign country so that's the main reason I stick to what I know I'll enjoy.
 
I have seen Bizarre Foods and really enjoyed it. Andrew Zimmerman focuses his attention on the unconventional dishes of a country, not the most popular. Hence the stranger the better. Seeing as India has great variety of cultures, it's comes as no surprise to me that he would find some dishes that I would consider bizarre.
 
Indeed there are bizarre foods around the world. However it all depends on culture and in my personal opinion, the term “bizarre” is rather preposterous. You may like a particular food where you come from while in some other distant land it is considered bizarre. So how about we term the foods “strange” rather than bizarre? [Just a thought of my own]. Zimmerman’s show is fantastic for sure and we all love it. However if there is something I can term strange was snake-bile drinking in china. Woo! I was taken aback when I saw that stop in Amazing Race. They puncture a snake’s bile as you watch by some specialists and you are to drink the bile mixed in some soup! I literally shivered when it happened. Indian cuisine however is the epitome of pepper. Almost every other food i tasted had pepper in it. Now I am used to mild paper and not too much of it. I love bizarre Indian foods and I would love to try them someday. Did someone just say spiders? [Lol]
 
I'm willing to try some bizzare food but on one condition: I wouldn't be told what it is until I swallow anything. Because it could ruin the whole experience. And, of course, the food itself gotta be safe. The most important thing ever.
 
artyarson said:
I'm willing to try some bizzare food but on one condition: I wouldn't be told what it is until I swallow anything. Because it could ruin the whole experience. And, of course, the food itself gotta be safe. The most important thing ever.
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That's a good point! A lot of the time, I think I'm scared to try new things because I know what they are, and it's a mental hurdle to get over when it comes to trying them.

I am sure there's a lot of things out there that taste good but are "unusual" to foreigners who haven't tried them before, so not knowing before trying is probably a good thing!!
 
The show is very interesting as the presenter Andrew is down to earth and not afraid of trying new foods and also interacts with people who make these dishes and is friendly with them and seems like at home as if he lives there and understands what goes behind the making of these dishes. I remember watching the Delhi episode and he had milk froth with sugar and looks creamy and has silver foil under it and some people believe it is good for the body which was amazing, some dishes can be nice and some made from things we would not think of eating. It is important to read the dish and also know what's in it so you don't feel unwell or have a sore stomach and need to check where it is made and check is it safe and if I was surviving would eat some things only if I needed to.
 
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