A traditional Inuit meal of frozen whale skin and blubber, muktuk is normally served either raw or pickled. It looks a little bit like liquorice all-sorts and has several layers: the skin (which apparently tastes like hazelnuts), the fat (chewy) and the protective layer in between (even more chewy). Don’t eat if wearing dentures.
An Inuit girl holds a treat of muktuk—whale blubber and skin. Muktuk, usually eaten raw, is a traditional food among the Inuit people. It provides nutrients such as vitamin C and is an excellent source of energy. However, even in 1956, when this photograph was taken, traditional foods such as muktuk were becoming less common.
Muktuk is most often made from the skin and blubber of the bowhead whale, although the beluga and the narwhal are also used. Usually eaten raw, today it is occasionally finely diced, breaded, deep fried, and then served with soy sauce. Despite it being usually eaten raw it could also be eaten frozen or cooked. It is also sometimes pickled. When chewed raw, the blubber becomes oily, with a nutty taste; if not diced, or at least serrated, the skin is quite rubbery.
In Greenland, muktuk (mattak) is sold commercially to fish factories, and in Canada to other communities (muktaaq).
Muktuk has been found to be a good source of vitamin C, the epidermis containing up to 38 mg per 100 grams (3.5 oz). It was used as an antiscorbutic by British Arctic explorers. Blubber is also a source of vitamin D.
As whales grow, mercury accumulates in the liver, kidney, muscle, and blubber, and cadmium settles in the blubber. It also contains PCBs, carcinogens that damage human nervous, immune and reproductive systems, bioaccumulated from the marine food web, and a variety of other contaminants.
Muktuk is a traditional Inuit delicacy that consists of whale meat cut into cubes. Yes, you read that right! This dish is certainly not for the faint of heart. It evokes a very polarized reaction from people.
Muktuk is eaten by Inuits predominantly in Greenland, Canada and Alaska, USA.
Now you may have already heard of the other, frankly quite shocking, inuit delicacy of Kiviak or the Hákarl fermented shark. And while Muktuk is certainly less bizarre than that, it’s certainly one of the weirder foods eaten around the world!
Growing up as a kid, you might’ve read that a whale (blue whale, to be specific) is the largest animal in the world. You might’ve seen footage of a whale swimming around the ocean, in all its massive glory.
But had you ever imagined that the same animal, with its huge dimensions, could be laying on the platter for you to devour?! Well, we welcome you to Muktuk!
Some list it as one of the world’s most disgusting foods, while others have gone on a 30 Day Muktuk Diet and actually gotten some effective weight loss results. Curious to find out more? We got you covered. In this article, we break down everything you need to know about the Inuit delicacy Muktuk.
What Is Muktuk?
Muktuk is the skin and blubber of bowhead, narwhal or beluga whales cut into cubes.
When served in its typical form, muktuk has a nutty, oily taste. It can also be pickled and deep fried, and then served with soy sauce.
In terms of appearance, Muktuk looks like a black cap of skin with striated layers of gray and white or soft, pink-white blubber.
The skin is super elastic – it’ll bounce back with each chew. The blubber, on the other hand, melts easily as you chew on.
Now, we’re not keeping any secret here, guys. Many people find the taste of Muktuk to be extremely repulsive.
It’s a fascinating dish, but it certainly can’t be described as mouth-watering or delicious or anything of the sort (unless you’ve really acquired a taste for it). If you can get past the taste, though, the dish has quite some nutritional value to offer.
It is a rich source of vitamin C (the epidermis contains up to 39 mg per 3.5 oz) which is crucial to the North where diseases such as scurvy continue to persist. Also, the whale blubber is a valuable source of vitamin D.
What Does Muktuk Taste Like?
Some say it tastes like fried eggs. Others feel a resemblance with fresh coconut. One enthusiastic diner goes on to describe it as “not unlike jerky, but tastes like the meat of a cow fed a strict diet of sardines”.
As you can tell, these descriptions are all very different from each other. It’s interesting to note that the dish tastes so unique, there’s no particular reference point for people to think of. “Weird” flavor and tender-crisp texture. Seems like a fascinating combo!
You may have a bit of trouble trying this recipe at home, and I wouldn’t recommend trying to source your own whale.
However, if you find yourself living with an inuit community, they may allow you to help them prepare muktuk. Although tasting this delicacy is possibly only for the brave!
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