挑戰你的廚房-昆蟲食譜

蟲蟲料理,你敢嘗試嗎?(©Cindy Liao 攝影)
據荷蘭 Wageningen 大學研究指出,昆蟲是比牛豬等動物更好、更環保的蛋白質來源,將會在世界糧食大戰中扮演重要角色,而研究人員也計畫推廣昆蟲料理。沒想到筆者在逛書店時,便赫然發現書架上安穩擺著這本《昆蟲食譜》!是的,你沒看錯!這是一本道地的昆蟲食譜!
仔細翻了翻內容,筆者十分激賞荷蘭人的務實、坦誠和開放。不僅食譜的設計非以「讓讀者或吃客感覺不到這是昆蟲做的」的心態出發,食物攝影本身也毫不隱諱昆蟲的存在。有些料理是將炸過的蟲蟲當成如油蔥酥般遍灑其上、有些則是呈現昆蟲的「原汁原味」,如昆蟲穀物棒、巧克力等。
除了食譜以外,書中更收錄了許多研究學者、專家與大廚的訪談,以及介紹世界各國以昆蟲入菜的傳統(如墨西哥與中國西南省份),不僅展現嚴謹的學術精神,更充滿了為世界未來找尋方向的熱誠。這也不禁讓筆者重新思考,我們認為吃昆蟲是噁心、但吃其他動物是美味這樣的認知,究竟是如何被文化所馴養?除了文化以外、是不是也有許多非關理性的成分參雜其中(例如對多毛多腳的生物感到不自主的厭惡與恐懼)?
但無論如何,面對未來有可能的糧食危機(?),也許我們都該挑戰看看吧……。出版本書的 Wageningen University ,也在該校網站上和大家分享了幾個值得一試的昆蟲食譜(荷文),有興趣的讀者可以參考此連結囉!

 

The challenge of your mouth – the Insect Cookbook/Het Insectenkookboek

Do you mind eating worms/insects? Do you know that one day they can be your most important source of protein? Together with chef Henk van Gurp, two professors in Wageningen University recently published an insect cookbook, promoting insect eating and cooking. It’s getting more and more difficult to feed all people in the planet, let alone eating well. Research at the university has shown that insects can provide the best source of protein while meeting the needs of a rising population. In addition, insect production is much more environmental friendly than other livestock productions. Raising insects emits 100 times less greenhouse gas than raising pigs.

Professor Marcel Dicke said that the launch of this cookbook is a step further to the introduction of insects on restaurant menus in the Netherlands. Besides solid recipes, this book includes interviews with researchers, food specialists, innovators and chefs who have been paying efforts on this issue and who have been making insect cooking more enjoyable and fun. The authors also try to justify their seemingly unusual attempt by introducing readers traditions of eating insects in different cultures.

To be honest, although I still feel nauseous thinking having insects in my meat balls or on top of my quiche, I can hardly not applaud the establishment of this unique cookbook. The recipe editing and food photography are just so honest and outspoken. They simply were not developed to conceal the existence of insects in food. I see a blunt Dutchness in promoting something that is believed to be right, although it might stir many’s stomach.

Wageningen University also shared several recipes on their website. If you’re interested, click the link and find out more.

 

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