Asian Carp Tacos? I’d Eat One!
According to this AP article, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is trying to kill two birds with one stone: deal with an invasive species… and fight hunger.
CHICAGO — Minced Asian carp tacos? How about spaghetti with carp sauce?
Illinois officials hope serving the invasive species on a plate is the creative solution to two big problems: controlling the plankton-gobbling carp from entering the Great Lakes and record numbers of people facing hunger. But the idea has major obstacles, mainly overcoming people’s nose-crinkling response to eating a fish that grows to 100 pounds and is able to sail out of the water — a trait spotlighted in YouTube videos.
…While eating Asian carp isn’t new — it’s consumed in China and high-end restaurants, among other places — the first step to get it to the American masses is countering the yuck factor.
Admittedly, I don’t think I’d enjoy being slapped upside the head by a big ol’ Asian carp, like the folks in this vid:
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc-e8EGkLMo]
But seriously… is that it? Is that where the so-called “yuck factor” comes from? The article says Asian carp tastes like mahi mahi… so I don’t get the “nose-crinkling response” at all. It’s apparently quite bony, but processing should be able to take care of that.
Personally, I think harvesting these pests for food sounds like a great idea – win-win for everyone. And if hungry folks in Illinois won’t bite, I will. I love fish tacos!
September 26, 2011
I think the “yuck factor” mostly comes from the fact that carp are mainly bottom feeders. People hear that and immediately decide their not good eating.
I’ve never had carp, but would be willing to give it a try.
September 26, 2011
That video is simply awesome… Its truly amazing just how many of them they are, and how they all just love to jump out of the water so much… Absolutely wild
September 26, 2011
It is wild! Although I’m not sure they’re jumping because they love to jump… this site: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticanimals/asiancarp/index.html suggests carp jump because they’re spooked by the sound of the boats.