That's right, that is me chowing down on a fried spider, a delicacy I enjoyed when I visited Cambodia in 2008. According to Wikipedia, the species of spider used in Cambodia is the Thai zebra tarantula. I figured it was some sort of tarantula, because it was pretty large -- the legspan was larger than the palm of my hand, easily:
I did not travel to Skuon, the epicenter of fried spiders in Cambodia, but instead had this particular morsel during my first evening in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. I had told my friend for some time that I wanted to try one, so she knew exactly where to go, and when I asked for one, the woman running the cart made me pick. I had no idea what to do, so I picked one that looked like a spider (eight legs, venomous fangs, stuff like that), and paid 1000 riels (about $0.25) for it. The cart also featured huge beetles (or cockroaches, I was not quite sure), the biggest crickets I have ever seen, and what I think was a small species of python (or maybe a baby python) on a stick. I regret not trying the snake, though a few days later I did have python at a restaurant in Siem Reap.
What does it taste like? Well, they fry it with garlic and sugar and what I assumed was something like soy sauce, so it was crunchy, salty-sweet, and garlicky. The cephalothorax of the spider contained a flaky white meat, reminiscent of crab, but I could not really taste anything distinctive about it. The abdomen, which contains a lot of organs, had a discernable taste, something like the muddy flavor I associate with eating a shrimp head, or any of the various parts in the head of a lobster. Not great tasting, but not terribly offensive, either. I suppose the best part of eating a fried spider are the looks you get from your friends :)
I suppose if you're going to eat an insect, it's best if it's fried. Better than boiled or sauted. LOL
ReplyDeleteAnd the words you get from your readers, and reactions in general. Blimey. Doesn't sound too bad though.
ReplyDeleteOne part of me is truly grossed out, another part is curious. What to do? ;-) I'm stopping by from the "A to Z" challenge and I look forward to reading more from you.
ReplyDelete@Porky -- Indeed, it tasted mostly like sugar, salt, and garlic. It was crunchy, like most fried food. Eating a fried shrimp or soft-shelled crab isn't too much different -- except we have an aversion to spiders and insects that borders on (and may even be) instinctual.
ReplyDeleteHere in Korea, the biggest the bug consumption gets is eating bowls of boiled silkworms. The smell is like sawdust, but the taste is oddly reminiscent of Campbell's vegetable beef soup. The texture...? Soft little pops, then a lot of leathery grinding till its gone.
ReplyDeleteNot something I would consider eating at home, but travel changes a person, right? ;)
@runeslinger -- One of the things I absolutely look forward to on any trip is trying the food. I think you learn a lot about a place and a people by eating the food they enjoy (both everyday fare and special treats).
ReplyDeleteI remember my dismay when I realized what your crummy Facebook avatar turned into once I got to see the larger version.
ReplyDelete