Silkie chicken, did you say? Is that extra smooth chicken? Nope, it’s a particular breed of chicken known for its fluffy white feathers. In this article, we are going to turn you into a silkie chicken expert and explore its taste, color, and health benefits, and even share some recipes. Let’s get started!
What does silkie chicken taste like? Silkie chicken tastes like a combination of chicken and duck. It has a slightly gamey flavor with a rich taste. Silkie chicken is more flavorful than your regular chicken.
What Is Silkie Chicken?
Silkie chicken is a breed of chicken famous for its fluffy white feathers. The feathers are so soft that they resemble silk. They are also known for their cheerful demeanor and for enjoying attention from people.
Silkie chickens have been popular in China for thousands of years. The first time they were mentioned in writing was by none other than Marco Polo, who wrote of a unique furry chicken he encountered while in Ancient China in the 1200s.
Silkie chickens produce eggs that range from white to light tan. They can produce up to 100 eggs per year. Silkie chickens are famous for their distinct black meat, which tastes like a combination of duck and chicken.
Black silkie chicken meat is considered a delicacy in China and many other Asian countries. It is used in curries and soups. However, their meat can often be tough as it takes a while for silkie chickens to mature, and they are free-range animals.
What Does Silkie Chicken Taste Like?
Silkie chicken tastes like a mixture of duck and chicken. It has a mild gamey flavor and is often tougher than standard chicken. Silkie chicken is more flavorful than standard chicken, with a richer, bloody taste.
Silkie chicken definitely tastes a little different than the standard chook you find in your local supermarket. As soon as you dig into the black meat, yes, black meat, your taste buds will immediately detect some ducky flavors. The meat has a rich flavor and some gamey elements. Silkie chicken has a subtle taste and is not as intense as duck, but it is still a nice change of pace compared to a standard chicken.
What Color Are Silkie Chickens?
Silkie chickens have fluffy white feathers with unusual black skin. They also have 1-2 extra digits on their feet compared to standard chickens.
Silkie chickens are unique! They have incredibly soft feathers, which is where the name silkie comes from. They also have distinct black skin, which even looks a little purple. Hailing from Asia, silkie chickens typically weigh around 2.2 pounds (1 kg) and live for around 9 to 10 years.
Due to their unusual appearance, many Chinese people consider it lucky to eat black silkie chicken meat. They are also used in a number of traditional medicine practices, particularly their bones and skin.
What Color Is Silkie Chicken Meat?
Silkie chicken meat is black! It is so dark it even looks purple. This is in stark contrast to standard chickens who have white skin. Don’t be alarmed if you find black meat on your plate, it is just some tasty silkie chicken!
One of the most unusual things about silkie chickens is their very black meat. Silkie chicken’s black meat is caused by a genetic mutation known as fibromelanosis. Fibromelanosis causes silkie chickens to have a huge amount of melanin in every fiber of their body. The result is silkie chickens have black meat, skin, beaks, feathers, and even internal organs.
Silkie Chicken Recipe
Do you want to cook an amazing silkie chicken dish? Then try this super yummy and healthy Chinese silkie chicken soup!
- Place all Dong quai (Angelica sinensis), Chuan xiong (Sichuan lovage root), Dang shen (radix codonopsis), and Huang qi (Astragalus)in a stock pack
- Place the whole silkie inside the inner pot of Instant Pot
- Add the stock, black dates, red dates, and ginger to the pot. Add water and boil
- Once the water has boiled, turn it down and let it simmer for 30 mins
- Close the lid and pressure cook on high for 20 mins
- When the chicken is done cooking, stir in goji berries and let them soften
- Add salt, and you are ready to eat!
This silkie chicken soup is super easy to whip out. And it will impress your whole family!
Is Silkie Chicken Healthy?
Silkie chicken meat is healthy as it is low in fat and high in protein. It is also high in a number of vitamins, including Vitamin B, E, and A. Silkie chicken meat is a great source of calcium, iron, and antioxidants.
Silkie chicken’s delicious taste isn’t the only reason you should try this unusual black meat, it is also loaded with health benefits. Silkie chicken can improve your eyesight because it is loaded with Vitamin A. It can improve your heart health thanks to its high iron content. Silkie chicken promotes strong and healthy bones because it is high in calcium. And Silkie chicken reduces your chance of blood clots thanks to its Vitamin E content.
Wrapping Up
Silkie chickens have striking black meat. But don’t let the odd color turn you off this delicious meat. Silkie chicken meat tastes like a mixture of chicken and duck. It has a unique and rich flavor with a gamey taste. If you are looking for new meat to try or just want to taste this bizarre black chicken, then follow our above recipe and enjoy some silkie!
FAQ
Why is silkie chicken meat black?
Silkie chicken meat is black because silkie chickens suffer from fibromelanosis; a genetic mutation that results in them having too much melanin in their body.
What are silkie chickens good for?
Silkie chickens are good for eggs, meat, and just as pets. A silkie chicken can produce up to 100 eggs per year, and their meat is delicious, it tastes like a combination of duck and chicken with its own unique flavor.
Are silkie chickens good for meat?
Silkie chickens are good for meat as the meat is high in protein and nutrients and also is more flavorful than typical store-bought chicken. However, silkie chicken meat can be tough as the animals are free-range and lean. Also, silkie chickens are small, so a typical carcass may not deliver much meat.
Do people eat silkie chicken eggs?
You can eat silkie chicken eggs. Silkie chickens are quite prolific egg producers and can produce up to 100 eggs per year. However, they do have the tendency to go brood which interrupts their egg production.
