Horse meat has become popular since the time of the nomads and has found the greatest distribution in the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus. However, the Slavs also engaged in the manufacture of horse meat sausages (kazy). All the properties of this meat have been studied for a long time. From this article you will learn about the benefits and harms of horse meat for humans, its calorie content, chemical composition and much more.
What do we know about horse meat?
Horse meat - horse meat eaten. To taste, it resembles beef, but stiffer in structure. For the preparation of various dishes take the meat of young horses (about 3 years) and foals. To achieve the softness of the meat, it is cooked for a very long time, at least 2 hours, but it is better and faster to cook the meat of a young foal (10-12 months).
Due to the specificity of its taste, not everyone will like horse meat. But then, people suffering from allergies can safely eat sausage or horse meat kebab, because this is the most hypoallergenic meat. It is no secret that horse’s more beneficial properties than harmful, therefore its use is widespread throughout the world.
Horsemeat is especially often used in the manufacture of sausages - it gives them a special flavorful piquancy and density. Horse meat production is not an easy and expensive business. Keeping horses in a stall is prohibited, as this affects the quality and taste of meat. Therefore, for breeding horses, a large amount of land is needed for pasture.
Horse meat is a delicacy!
As mentioned above, horse breeding requires a large area of land. Therefore, such an agricultural enterprise is highly dependent on geographical conditions. In many countries of Europe there are no such areas, and horse meat has to be imported. In Japan, it is also very difficult to keep horses due to the lack of natural pasture. But entrepreneurs do not spare money to create conditions for keeping stallions and getting quality horse meat. As a result, their business is booming - dishes from this meat are incredibly expensive.
Horse meat (kazy) sausage is a famous delicacy, but Europeans created the myth that it has a nasty taste. These rumors have been circulating since the time of Napoleon: supposedly soldiers ate dead horses and used gunpowder instead of salt and pepper. This explains the multiple food poisoning in the army during the war. But to associate them with the taste of horsemeat, you see, is simply stupid.
In Russia, horsemeat is most eaten in such regions as Tatarstan, the Republic of Sakha, Karachay-Cherkessia and Bashkortostan. An interesting fact is that in Turkmenistan the use of horse meat is prohibited.
Horse meat benefits
Next, consider the benefits and harms of horse meat for the human body. The main plus is that this product contains a huge amount of complete protein. The composition and quality of amino acids in it is considered the most optimal, due to which the calorie content of horse meat is low. Scientists claim that the assimilation of such meat occurs 8 times faster than cow meat.
The fats that make up horse meat are considered to be something in between the fats of plant and animal origin. The use of horse meat in food causes a choleretic effect. Due to the ability of horse meat to lower the level of harmful cholesterol in the blood, it is rightly considered an ideal product for stabilizing the metabolism in the body. Due to the small amount of fat, calorie horse meat is low. Therefore, it is recommended in diets for weight loss.
Horse meat composition
The composition of horse meat is striking in the number of microelements and vitamins, it contains a lot of iron and vitamin A. According to some scientists, the use of horse meat in food helps to neutralize the effects of radiation and other harmful environmental factors on human health. Even the ancient nomads were convinced of the positive properties of horsemeat, even claiming that it improves potency.
Horse fat, although unpleasant in taste, has healing properties and is used in cosmetics, medicines for respiratory diseases and healing ointments, in particular for burns or frostbite. Horse meat is recommended to eat for people who have had hepatitis (jaundice) or other liver diseases.
Hypoallergenic horse meat also contains vitamins E and B, which help improve blood circulation, and because of the huge amount of iron, it is very useful for people suffering from anemia. However, despite the huge number of positive aspects, horse meat is still not as popular as other meat. Why? Now we will analyze.
Minuses
In horse meat, the amount of carbohydrates is scanty, not more than 1%, which contributes to the reproduction of bacteria and microorganisms. Because of this, the meat is very poorly stored. Veterinary services check horse meat with special attention and quite often find a dangerous parasite - salmonella, which can lead to death. Therefore, half-baked horsemeat steak is strictly prohibited.
Horse meat can be a carrier of trichinosis, an equally dangerous parasite that causes intestinal upset and bleeding. Taking into account all the pros and cons of horse meat as a food product, you yourself can give an answer to the question of whether it is worth consuming. Whatever you decide, do not forget to follow the rules of storage and preparation of horse meat, and let your health not be in danger.
Horse meat skewers
There are many recipes for barbecue from horse meat, but they all agree on one thing: you need to pickle it for at least 10 hours, because horse meat is very tough. To make the horse meat shish kebab delicious, it is important to observe 2 rules:
- use quality meat;
- make a good marinade.
The meat needs to be cleaned of the films and cut into small pieces (50 g each), which are then slightly beaten off, pour the marinade and refrigerate for 10 - 12 hours. You can always find marinade recipes on your own on the Internet. It is better to string meat on a skew, alternating it with tomatoes and pickled onions.
Do not worry about the calorie content of horse meat and the amount of kebab eaten, because this meat is best absorbed. And its most usual frying - takes about 15 minutes. Cranberries, quinces, lingonberries and cherry plum sauces are great for barbecue.
Horse meat sausage - kazylyk
The meat of horses is very satisfying, so the nomads constantly only fed on them. It is enough to eat a couple of pieces of stewed horse meat, and a person will not need food during the day. This is the most useful protein product. It turns out the following paradox: horse meat calories are low, and satiety is high. Why? Everything became clear when they were able to study the chemical composition of meat: healthy fats, a large amount of protein and the absence of carbohydrates - that's the whole secret.
Horse meat sausage (kazylyk) is a favorite dish of residents of all East Asia. Not a single event is complete without a kazylyk. The higher the social position of the owner of the holiday, the more there should be treats from horsemeat. Kazylyk and kazy, by the way, are one and the same.
The traditional standard kazylyk is a sausage made from chopped horse meat in the form of whole balls. The stronger and denser they are, the more expensive the product. This is precisely its feature and distinctive feature.