The seahorse is a valuable sea animal and is widely known as a source of curing ailments. Besides, you might have seen it paired up with rice wine, tea, or soup by seafood fans.
If you happen to be one of them, you may also want to have a taste of it. But, there might be a lot of doubts regarding it in your mind. Does a seahorse taste the same as other fish? Is it worth eating or not?
Yes, you can eat a seahorse as it is safe and consumed in many parts of the world. You can have them cooked, boiled, or fried as per your liking. Its nutritional value is almost zero, unlike other sea animals. Avoid eating raw seahorse as it can turn out to be risky for your health. Dried and powdered sea horse goes well in soups and teas, a medicine against diseases.
While seafood is famous for its distinct taste and flavors, a seahorse is less common in comparison. There are many assumptions regarding whether you can eat it or drop the idea. Let’s find out more about them.
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Is It A Good Idea To Eat Seahorses; Are They Safe?
Mainly, seahorse harvest takes place for medicinal purposes. But, many people around the earth eat them as a delicacy as well, especially in places like Japan and China. If you like experimenting with different flavors, you can give seahorse a try.
Contrary to popular belief, seahorses are not poisonous or harmful to your health. They are edible, and you can use them the same way as you would regular sea items. But, they are not readily available on the restaurants’ menus like crabs or octopus, etc. You can only find them in Asian markets, and it’s hard to locate them anywhere else.
Another reason people don’t eat seahorses often is due to their no real nutritional value. Eating it will provide you no energy boost, and people have it just for a fun new experience.
Also, they have a very little meat-to-bone ratio. So, eating a seahorse is not the best option, but you can go ahead with it if you are curious. Other than this, it will not make you sick or cause any serious health issues.
Can You Eat Raw Seahorse?
Generally, seahorses are not eaten raw and are always cooked or fried before consumption. Although there is no specific reason behind not having them uncooked, it does make sense why people avoid them. There are health risks involved while eating them raw as they can turn out poisonous. As an outcome, it can make you seriously sick, and you do not want that to happen.
Thus, it is better to eat them fried and put on a stick as you often see in Asian countries. You can also use them dried in soups, teas, and rice wine. After they cook, seahorses are safe and edible. So, ideally, you should consume them as per conventional methods as eating them raw is not that popular or practical.
What Does A Seahorse Taste Like?
Seahorses are unique sea creatures, and you might be wondering what their taste resembles. People describe it as very salty, and the texture is quite similar to a fried squid. If you are not familiar with sea edibles, you might find the taste of the seahorse a little bland.
However, with the correct seasoning and spices, it turns much tastier. It is better than eating it plain and simple.
In China, you will find seahorses prepared as kebabs. At some specific spots, they deep fry them to give them extra crispiness, and you get horse-shaped, extra salty French fries. After fried, they may taste more like salty pork rinds instead of squid-like chewy.
Seahorses are also a popular ingredient in soups, often paired with pork and dates. Whichever way you prefer, they are a one-time experience, and that is why more and more people are giving it a go.
Different Ways You Can Eat Seahorse
There are a variety of ways through which you can utilize seahorse. It depends upon you whether you want to have it for nutritional purposes or just for the sake of enjoyment. Commonly, the seahorses are dried, grounded, and used in medicines. Although the research is limited, the general belief is that seahorses have many medicinal benefits.
When it comes to eating it as a food, one option is boiling the seahorse and converting it into a soup. You can add your favorite veggies, sauces, and spices to enhance the flavors. If you are not a fan of soups, you can opt for crispy fried seahorses.
Another method to use the seahorse is boiling it and making tea. It might sound strange to you to think of a seahorse tea, but people across the globe have already tried it out. In the end, it is all up to you how you want to eat seahorse as the choices are plenty.
Benefits Of Eating A Seahorse
Compared to other seafood kinds, seahorses are not as nutritionally rich. There is not much solid scientific evidence available, but they are still known for their medicinal properties. According to Chinese medicine theory, they are nourishing and a good source of bodily energy.
Dried seahorses mixed with herbs and tea can work as a treatment against
- Asthma
- Help ease down general pain
- Respiratory disorders
- Arthritis and associated inflammation.
As a food, seahorse lacks essential nutrients but is a good source of protein. Thus, it will not provide any strength to the body as you would expect from it.
Does Eating Seahorse Have A Side Effect?
As discussed earlier, eating a cooked seahorse has no adverse effects on the body and is safe for consumption. The same rule does not apply to their raw counterparts. Food health authorities never recommend eating uncooked sea items, including seahorses.
But, as of now, seahorses are enlisted among endangered species. So, to protect these fun little creatures, it is not advisable to have them regularly. As a wild sea animal, it needs protection, and we must curb their unnecessary killing to save them from extinction.
Conclusion
To give a final verdict, eating seahorse is safe as long as thoroughly fried or cooked. A raw seahorse might be harmful to your health, and you should avoid it. Before planning to buy and eat seahorses, you must know that this unique sea animal is on the verge of extinction.
Eating it one time is fine, but you make sure you avoid overconsuming the seahorse. It is full of many medicinal benefits and treats severe illnesses. You can also have them crispy fried on a stew or in regular soup. The dried version can go well in teas and rice wine.
The seahorse is an expensive and endangered sea animal. So, it is not the best idea to eat it. It is devoid of any vital vitamins and minerals, and thus eating them will serve you no health benefit. However, if you love trying new things, you can carry on with your decision.
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