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Weird dishes that could shock you as an expat

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Written byVeedushi Bon 09 October 2020

Moving abroad often means discovering new cultures and trying new cuisines. However, you shouldn't expect to only come across those fabulous delicacies you've been looking at on Instagram. Some of them might even give you a shock! Expat.com presents some of the world's weirdest foods you should try at least once during your stay abroad.

Asia

century eggs
Century eggs / Shutterstock.com

Asia is world-famous for its outstanding diverse cuisine, especially in China, India, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam, etc. Perhaps you have already tried their deliciously spicy meals at a restaurant in your home country, or maybe you have tried a recipe. But there are so many things you won't even know unless you move to one of these countries. Chicken feet, for example, are very popular in soups or fried in many Asian countries, such as China.

Did you know that tuna eyeballs are exquisite? Now don't make that face. According to the Japanese, it tastes like squid and octopus. But if you still feel uncomfortable about it, close your eyes before opening your mouth. Besides, there's much more to Asian cuisine. Did you know that the Chinese love having 100-year-old eggs? But rest assured, they are not that old. It's just about rotten eggs, preserved in a mixture of ash, clay and quicklime for several months. This turns the egg yolk into a viscous dark green or black layer while the white becomes a translucent dark brown jelly. The egg smells strong, but you might as well have it in a single bite.

Filipinos also love eggs, but they prefer duck eggs in a particular way. Balut, for example, is a duck embryo, boiled in its shell, then seasoned with garlic, vinegar, and chilli. Only the eggshell is removed, as you will eat the rest. Balut goes well with chilled beer. And if you are going to Cambodia, you should try fried spiders at least once. These crispy tarantulas are fried in garlic oil. Tourists love them!

If you're moving to Thailand, don't miss the delicious Jing Leed which are large grasshoppers seasoned with salt, pepper and chilli and fried in a large wok.

Middle East

kushari
Kushari / Shutterstock.com

The Middle East also has its share of weird but tasty foods. In Egypt, for example, kushari is considered the national dish. This surprising mix of pasta, rice, lentils and chickpeas, is topped with a spicy tomato sauce and vinegar. You can find it at every street corner as it's a very popular dish. Much appreciated in many Middle East countries, and especially Turkey, khash is a dish made from cow legs and heads. But it's not meant for sensitive persons.

Europe

casu marzu
Casu marzu / Shutterstock.com

If you believe that the world's finest cuisine is found in Europe, you are not quite wrong. But some dishes might really surprise you. Have you ever heard of pickled eggs? These eggs are boiled, left to cool, and then soaked in vinegar for several days. When the vinegar penetrates the egg yolk, it becomes acidic. It's definitely a must-try in the UK. In Scotland, you've probably heard of haggis, which is considered the national dish. Haggis is a mixture of sheep's heart, lungs and liver, topped with oats, onions and spices and a broth, and cooked while traditionally stuffed in the animal's stomach. It is often served with mashed potatoes and turnip and a peg of whiskey. You will also find simple foods in Scotland, so simple they might leave you speechless. For example, chips on a roll are very popular. What is it about? It's just a bread filled with fries drizzled with salt, vinegar and sauce. In some places, it is called "chip butty".

Italians will tell you that their cuisine is the world's finest. Still, you will be surprised by the casu marzu or rotten cheese. Originally from Sardinia, this cheese is made from pecorino, which gives off a strong smell. The fly larvae that are added to it digest the fat, which softens the inside. But rest assured that can eat them without the maggots. Casu marzu has a smooth and creamy taste that lasts for hours.

What if you were offered you blood pancakes? Blodplättar is very popular in Sweden. It is simply whipped pork blood that is fried until it turns crispy.

North America

escamoles
Escamoles / Shutterstock.com

Canada is not just poutine and maple syrup. Have you ever heard of Rocky Mountain oysters? If not, then don't mistake them for oysters. These are bull's testicles, fried, stuffed, or sautéed, and usually served with spices, herbs, or gravy. In the United States, you can also try fried brain sandwiches. This dish is popular in many States, especially in Ohio. These sliced and fried pork brains or calves are served with fries, mustard and sweet pickles. However, watch out for calories!

In Mexico, there are two incredibly weird foods. Eightlacoche or corn smut is a fungus that transforms corn kernels by coating them with blue and black spores. This is a Mexican culinary speciality, thanks to its earthy and woody flavour. Escamoles, for their part, are a salad of ant larvae, also known as "insect caviar". The ant eggs are harvested from the roots of agave plants and cooked in a fryer or in butter, which gives them a nutty taste.

Oceania

vegemite
Vegemite / Shutterstock.com

In Australia, you might expect to eat kangaroo or crocodile meat or even wichetty grubs which are white maggots that taste like hazelnuts. But marmite or vegemite is a kitchen staple. This brown, salty and sticky spread is made from beer yeast. Marmite is also very popular in New Zealand. It is usually spread on toast and often accompanied by cheese.

Africa

bunny chow
Bunny chow / Shutterstock.com

In many African countries, as in Asia, insects are very appreciated, so expect to find plenty of them. But you will also have the opportunity to taste some simple and delightful, yet weird foods. In South Africa, for example, pineapple sandwiches are popular. If you've never tried bread with fruit before, then you definitely should. Bunny chow, on the other hand, is bread that is hollowed and filled with curry made from mutton, lamb, chicken, hash or red beans.

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About

I hold a French diploma and worked as a journalist in Mauritius for six years. I have over a decade of experience as a bilingual web editor at Expat.com, including five years as an editorial assistant.

Comments

  • beppi
    beppi4 years ago(Modified)
    In Japan, I was invited to a fine restaurant. The starter was a bowl of slightly yellowish liquid, in which little, almost transparent live fishes swam. I was told to swallow without chewing. I declined to do either. The rest of the meal was fabulous, though - especially the Sake. In Thailand, our company secretary one day brought a bowl of fried fat maggots - crisy outside and creamy inside, the locals said. I took only a photo. But considering the speed at which they were gobbled up, they must have been good!

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