Tonight while we were out, our friend Grant ordered the Horse Sashimi, or 馬刺し. It’s been on my list of “Things that I want to try that really kind of freak me out.” I don’t know, but for some reason eating horse just seems weirder to me than beef or chicken or pork. What do you guys think? Would you eat horse? Is it normal in your area, or strange to you?
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When I tried it I thought it tasted gamey
I was expecting it to taste gamey, but ours didn’t taste like much of anything. It was strangely bland!
I am 100% against eating this. I rode horses for 6 years, and was BFF with my horse. I’m not against using animals for food since I grew up on a farm and we would raise rabbits, chickens, and goats that would later end up on the dinner table… but I draw the line at horses and dogs… other animals that seem to be on a higher level and actually seem to exhibit emotions.
To me, eating horse is up there with eating dog… I know it’s okay in some places, and I respect it, but I refuse to eat it myself.
I agree 100% with Caroline.
Yeah, I can understand horses being on a different level than some animals. It really kind of freaked me out a bit, I was surprised by the strength of my reaction. I’ve never had a problem eating meat, but horse really felt strange.
Dog is also on my list of things I want to try for the sake of trying, but will likely creep me the heck out when I actually do it. And I definitely won’t be making a habit of it!
Yeah, but you wouldn’t eat a good horse. Edible horses and horses fit for riding are totally different.
In an case, I have nothing against eating horse, although the idea of eating it raw is a bit odd (the same goes for chicken sashimi), although I guess I’d get used to it seeing as how fish sashimi is one of my all-time favourite foods. I ate cooked horse several times in Slovenia and it was great.
Then again, I’ve also eaten Guinea pig…
I sort of made this mistake in France, when I cooked horse that I thought was beef. (Note to self: read the label!) My daughter, the prizewinning Equestrienne, has never let me forget it. And it didn’t taste so great, either.
Ohhh, man–I can understand your daughter not being to happy! I was never really that into horses (though I did take lessons, so I do have some up close experience.) But a prize winning Equestrienne? I can’t imagine how she must have felt! And surprise horse wouldn’t be fun either–at least I knew what I was getting myself into!
I tried it in Kumamoto. Wasn’t bad – just tasted like beef but a little gamier, as Zach but it.
It’s cool to have qualms against eating certain kinds of animals. Just so long as you realize that it’s kind of arbitrary, I think. There are people who keep pet pigs, and I bet if you asked them they’d tell you that pigs exhibit emotions. I’m a cat person myself and wouldn’t eat one unless I was going to starve otherwise, but I think that’s part mental and part societal. If I were living in China I probably would have no problem with it.
Yeah, I do think a certain amount of the weirdness I felt was more societal than anything else. It didn’t taste bad at all, in fact it didn’t really taste like ANYthing at all! I was expecting gaminess, but it was just really bland. I do want to try dog at some point, though I’m sure it’ll be kind of strange. And cat might be too much for me! If it were something I grew up with, maybe, but growing up with cats for pets has definitely colored my view!
Indeed. Maybe gamey is a little too strong a word. Stringy? It was definitely less tender and a bit more chewy than beef.
Frog is up there on my list, though I’ve been to France (shame on me for missing the chance). So many delicious animals to eat, so little time.
Ours was reaaaally chewy too! I’d like to try it cooked, perhaps, (or in sausage form!) to see if there’s more/better flavor.
I don’t think I’ve tried frog either, but I definitely want to! I have tried alligator, but maybe the strangest thing I’ve eaten was Horseshoe Crab in Thailand. Ohhhh, man, was it gross! What’s the weirdest thing you’ve eaten?
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I have nothing against eating horse, but I wouldn’t eat it raw. But dried, spicy horse meat sausage – delicious!!!
Horse sausage, aye? I’d give that a go!
I tried it for the first time in Kyushu, where it is something of a specialty. I had to have a few beers before I could eat it, but I found I actually really like it. I think basashi is more of a delivery vehicle for the chopped ginger and garlic that goes with it. Like sushi, the flavor of the meat itself is not very strong. I have never been a horse lover, so that doesnt really bother me. I actually have had frog as well, in China. It was merely ok. Perfectly edible, but nothing I am too eager to eat again.
Just reading that that’s raw horse meat gives me the heebie-jeebies D: