If you are from the Anglosphere, you probably have never tried horse meat. Horse meat is even illegal in the US and Australia. But it is still widely consumed in Asia and Europe. In this article, we are going to explore exactly what horse meat tastes like and how to eat it!

Facts About Horse Meat

Horse meat is an intriguing food! Find out how to order it in different countries and where to find the best horse meat below!

What is horse meat called? Horse meat is called chevaline, cheval (French), caballo (Spanish), konina (Russian), zhilky yeti (Kazakh), baniku (Japanese), carvallo (Italian) or ma rou (Chinese).

If you are in Russia you need to ask for some konina, while Kazakhs call it zhilky yeti. In France, it is known as cheval, while in Italy, horse meat is carvallo. The Japanese call it baniku while the Chinese call it ma rou. English foodies have tried to rebrand horse meat as chevaline!

Where is horse meat popular? Horse meat is very popular throughout East Asia, including China (the number 1 consumer in the world) and Japan. It is extremely popular in Central Asia, particularly in Mongolia and Kazakhstan. 5% of people in France, Italy, Belgium, and Russia eat horse meat regularly.

China is the largest producer and consumer of horse meat on the planet! China slaughters approximately 2 million horses per year and produces over 200,000 tons of meat! Horse meat holds a special place in the hearts of nomads from Central Asia. People from Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan eat horse meat regularly, and the meat is widely available in all supermarkets and markets.

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Is horse meat illegal in the US? It is illegal to slaughter or import horses for human consumption in the US. It is not illegal to eat horse meat. However, you won’t be able to find a legal and safe source. Horse meat was made illegal in 2007, and the last remaining slaughterhouses were shut down.

Horse meat was never very popular in the US. It received a slight increase in popularity after some restaurants in New York, and California started experimenting with different European-inspired dishes. However, in 2007 Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) stopped inspecting horse slaughterhouses, effectively outlawing the production of horse meat as it is illegal to sell food that does not meet their standards. In conjunction, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) banned the import of horse meat to the US, which killed the market.

What Does Horse Taste Like?

Horse meat is sweet with a mild gamey, and earthy flavor. It tastes like a combination of beef and venison. Horse meat is not as juicy as beef but is slightly sweeter and has a richer flavor. It ranges in color from pink to dark red.

Horse meat has a unique flavor! It blends elements of beef and venison. It is sweet like beef but chewier, less juicy, with a smoother finish. Horse meat has a gamey and rich flavor similar to venison. Horse meat is very lean, so you need to be careful not to overcook it as it can become tough and chewy.

Does horse meat taste good? Horse meat has a rich, gamey and sweet flavor. If you enjoy venison, you will love horse meat. It is richer and sweeter than beef and has a smooth finish with some earthy notes. 

Horse meat is delicious! If you are looking for sweet meat loaded with flavor, horse meat is a great choice. It has an inviting but not overpowering gamey, and earthy flavor combined with a natural smooth sweetness. Horse meat is versatile and tastes amazing raw or when turned into steaks, burgers, or sausages.

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Does horse meat taste like beef? Horse meat tastes like a combination of beef and venison. Horse meat is buttery and savory like beef but is much sweeter with earthy and gamey flavors similar to venison. With horse meat, you get the best of both worlds!

Horse meat is much leaner and sweeter than beef. It lacks the juiciness and plumpness of beef. Horse meat is firmer and smoother than beef. However, it has a similar meaty, savory and buttery flavor with the addition of some earthy and gamey notes.

Is horse meat as good as beef? Horse meat tastes as good as beef, if not better! Horse meat is sweet with a richer and more intense flavor than beef with additional gamey flavors. Horse meat is also healthier than beef as it contains less fat and cholesterol and more protein and omega-3s.

Did you know horse meat is healthier than beef? Horse meat has 28 to 30 grams of protein per 100 grams, while beef has 25 grams per 100 grams. Horse meat is also much leaner, containing 6 grams of fat per 100 grams, while beet contains 15 grams per 100 grams. Horse meat is loaded with nutrients! It is a great source of protein, iron, and unsaturated fatty acids. Horse meat is packed full of B12, phosphorus, and zinc.

Does horse meat have protein? Horse meat is extremely high in protein. 100 grams of horse meat contains 28 to 30 grams of protein which is even higher than beef which typically contains 25 grams per 100 grams.

If you are looking to boost your protein intake, horse meat is an amazing option. Horse meat is loaded with protein, with 100 grams containing a whopping 28 to 30 grams of protein. Horse meat is rich in complete protein and is one of the most protein-dense foods on the planet!

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The taste of horse meat varies widely depending on the breed of the animal and its diet. Some horses are raised on grass or grain, while others are fed a diet of corn or soybean meal. Horses that are raised on grass may have a deeper flavor than those that are fed corn. The texture of horsemeat can also vary widely depending on the animal’s diet. If the horse was fed soybean meal or corn, it will have more fat and less fiber than a horse that was raised on hay and grass.

How To Eat Horse Meat?

Horse meat is eaten raw in Japan, turned into sausages in Russia, consumed as steaks in Kazakhstan, or eaten in noodle soup in Uzbekistan.

In Japan, horse sashimi, known as basashi, is popular. In this dish, raw slices of horse meat are served with horseradish and dipped in soy sauce. In Kazakhstan, boiled horse steaks are very popular. Boiled horse meat is often served with noodles. A number of sausages in Russia are made from horse meat. Kazylyk is a traditional Tatar horse sausage that is popular in Russia.

What goes well with horse meat? Horse meat is very versatile, just like beef! Horse meat goes extremely well with mustard, soy sauce, onion, horseradish, and chili. Horse meat goes well with pasta, noodles, and rice. 

You can pair horse meat with virtually anything! You can create horse meatballs and serve them with a rich tomato sauce and gravy. You can eat horse sausages with toast, eggs, and baked tomatoes. You can eat boiled horse meat with rice, onions, and cheese. Or you could eat raw thin slices of horse meat with just soy sauce.

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Final Thoughts

Horse meat may have a bad reputation in the Anglosphere, but it is a delicious and nutritious food. Horse meat has a lovely sweet, earthy and gamey flavor. It takes the best elements of beef and venison and combines them to create a unique and incredible flavor. Horse meat is still widely eaten throughout Asia, Central Asia, and some parts of Europe. If you want to go on a horse meat-eating adventure, start in Japan, traverse to China, then up through Mongolia, Kazakhstan, into Russia, and keep heading across Europe until you end up in France!