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Top 10 invasive species you can eat
From lionfish to rabbits, we've got recipes to help eat our way out of the invasive species problem.
Wed, Jan 12 2011 at 12:55 PM
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Photo: Nick Harris/Flickr
Last week I told you about invasivores, people who eat invasive species for the express purpose of controlling the species so they don't devastate ecoystems. A representative from Roger Williams University contacted me and told me they had done research on eating invasive species and had come up with a list of invasive species that can be eaten. I thought it would be interesting to share the list with you. I’ve also tracked down recipes for them.
- Lionfish. Lionfish Romesco Stew was featured in The Washington Post last summer. It was also called the sustainable “it” seafood that conservationists say more people should begin eating.
- Asian carp. The Bowfishing Association of Illinois has a recipe for Smoked Asian Carp that can be prepared two ways — savory or sweet. You’ll have to scroll half way down the page to find the specific recipes.
- Brassica rapa (aka turnip mustard or field mustard). The Selfsufficientish blog has information about this invasive plant species and a recipe for Simple Mashed Turnips.
- American cannonball jellyfish. Apparently eating jellyfish is common in Asia. (I didn’t know they were edible.) The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has some instructions on how to prepare jellyfish to be added to salad or served alongside vegetables.
- Kudzu. I found several suggestions for kudzu on Grandpappy’s Basic Recipes. Both the leaves and the blossoms can be used to create teas, salads and even wine.
- Bullfrog. In France, frog legs are considered a treat. I’m not so sure I’d want to give them a try, but garlic makes everything better so maybe this recipe for Garlic Frogs Legs from Food.com might make them seem more palatable.
- Feral pigs/wild boar. If you’re a skilled hunter and want to help thin out the invasive pig and boar population, you might as well make a meal out of your kill, right? Texas Gourmet has a recipe for Sugar Cured Feral Hog that is cooked in a BBQ pit.
- European green crab. Green crabs can be used in most crab recipes, although they are smaller than many crabs so getting enough meat can be time-consuming. Try Green Crab Enchiladas from Big Oven or Green Crab Soup from Epicurious.
- Rusty crayfish. The only time I’ve ever eaten crayfish (also called crawfish) was in New Orleans in an etouffee. I’d try Emeril’s Crawfish Etouffee recipe if you’ve got an overabundance of rusty crayfish you’re looking to cook up and eat.
- Rabbit. I’ve eaten rabbit in restaurants. It’s got one of those “tastes like chicken” flavors but a bit gamier. The one time it was served on the bone, I could clearly see the shape of the little rabbit leg, and it kind of ruined the dish for me. So, I suggest if you don’t want to think about eating rabbit while you are eating it, go boneless. Try this Hassenpfeffer (rabbit stew) recipe from allrecipes.com.
Have you ever eaten any of these invasive species? I’d love to know how it was prepared and what you thought of it.
Also on MNN: Endangered species that are still on the menu
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I have a hunting lease and average 3-5 hogs a year, I have them processed as hamburger and cube steak.we use it in everything, it will usually last until it starts getting cold again and then it's time to go hunting.
I think you should specify where these species are invasive to. Bullfrogs aren't invasive in the states, neither are rabbits.
i have eaten stew rabbit and curried rabbit...but please do have it in small portions...too much is mummmmmmmm... but please do try for youselves..
The link for the GA Dept. whatever for the jellyfish stuff goes to the blog about the turnips. I'm really only curious about this one (being raised by depression era grandparents, i've been eating a lot of this already, but not jelly fish)
Try this one: Cannonball Jellyfish.
I will check into getting it fixed. Thanks.
I have eaten rabbit meat roasted in the oven and froglegs lightly battered and deep fried almost like buffalo wings.
FIndestkind!
I don't know where the author of this article grew up but it is evident that it was not in a rural area or small town.Here in the south, wild rabbits, frog legs, doves, quail and squirrels were a large part of our diet.. I know many, many people who avidly hunt and enjoy them today. Frog legs are considered a delicacy and are served in many southern restaurants. You must , however, know in which season to hunt a particular animal and how to properly dress and prepare it.
A riotous story: In Paris, my Parisian friends told me I had to try the frogs' legs. "When in Rome," etc., ... anyway, they tasted like chicken; not gamey (I was surprised). I asked my host what he ordered. He said, "Steak. We don't eat frogs' legs." We had a great laugh (and a bottle of '86 Margaux). I don't know if he was teasing or not, but it was funny. Now I'm a vegetarian so I can't tell you about the others, but, yes, frogs' legs ... not so bad.
When I was a kid growing up in Hawthorn and Wilmar in the LA area, we raised chickens and rabbits for personal food consumption in our back yards. Lots of folks did that. Rabbit tastes good and to this day I miss it. This was back in the forties and early fifties. We did same after moving north to Washington. If eating any animal should test people's sensibilities, it should be pork. Pigs are much smarter than rabbits and more like us.
If you consume any product that has a form of wheat in it, then you are aiding the yearly slaughter of many wheat field residents. Many are killed as they harvesters crush cut and mangle them.
So shut up you hypocrite, your choice of food is killing animals even if you don't eat them yourself.
We don't give You a hard time about eating Your rabbit food so leave us alone.
First off,how would anybody from from "yer nek of da woods"know anything about which you write??????
Having been an avid hunter,fisher,trapper for the last 60 years,there is little I have not killed ,cooked and eaten
Your comments are comical.Please feel free to correct my english grammer.
Go back to teaching english.I am sure you are much better at that than talking about eating wild game..Here in K.C.MO we all had a great laugh...CHEERS
First off,how would anybody from from "yer nek of da woods"know anything about which you write??????
Having been an avid hunter,fisher,trapper for the last 60 years,there is little I have not killed ,cooked and eaten
Your comments are comical.Please feel free to correct my english grammer.
Go back to teaching english.I am sure you are much better at that than talking about eating wild game..Here in K.C.MO we all had a great laugh...CHEERS
I have been hunting cottontail rabbits and making rabbit nuggets longer than McDonalds has had chicken Mcnuggets and mine are better and cheaper!!!
ARod, two points:
1) Why would you assume that someone writing for a STAY-AT-HOME-MOMS blog is going to be male?
2) Yes you have to kill a whole cow for a hamburger, but its not like they kill a whole cow and then just make ONE hamburger out of it. You can feed a lot of people with one cow. They never "kill a whole cow just for one hamburger".
Very good and plenty of them......................
In the article, the person says that eating rabbit was a chore(perhaps disgusting);
but I'm sure that (he) eats all the domestic animals by the tons! Does he/she knows that you have to kill a whole cow just for 1 hamburger. Do they???
Do you know they use the rest of the cow too. Practically all of it, and efficiently in most cases.
lol you can't kill half a cow
In the article, the person says that eating rabbit was a chore(perhaps disgusting);
but I'm sure that (he) eats all the domestic animals by the tons! Does he/she knows that you have to kill a whole cow just for 1 hamburger. Do they???
UM-UM- GOOD! BUTTER AND GARLIC DO THE TRICK.
OF COURCE YOU HAVE TO COOK THEM!
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