Results: Cooking Up Some Curious Cuisines Part 2 of 5
Published on 06/17/2025
Many cuisines are tied to specific geographic areas and their available ingredients. There are plenty of beloved local delicacies that to an outsider may seem quite surprising or unusual. In this series we take a look at some of the more curious foods from around the world. Cheapism is my source for this series. WARNING: This installment contains an arachnid dish, which may be triggering for those with arachnophobia.

QUESTIONS
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Comments
1.
1.
Balut is available in the Phillipines and other parts of South Asia, but might not be for all appetites. It's a fertilized duck egg boiled and eaten directly from the shell. But before you shrug it off as a plain, old egg dish, there are some details to note. The egg embryo develops for 14 to 21 days before being cooked. To eat the completed balut, you make a hole in the shell to suck out the liquids, then crunch away on the rest. Do you enjoy egg dishes?
Yes
42%
918 votes
No
26%
563 votes
Occasionally
29%
631 votes
I'm allergic to eggs.
4%
88 votes
2.
2.
Jellied moose nose is a traditional dish in parts of Alaska and Canada, particularly among Indigenous communities. It involves boiling the moose's snout, removing the skin and hair, and then cooking it further until it becomes a gelatinous texture, similar to head cheese. A combination of white meat and dark meat, the resulting dish is often served cold and is considered a delicacy. TV chef Andrew Zimmern tried it and compared it to corned beef. Does this sound like a dish you'd like to try?
Yes
7%
159 votes
No
56%
1224 votes
Possibly, I'm generally game to try anything once.
10%
230 votes
Pass, pass, very hard pass.
17%
383 votes
Not Applicable
9%
204 votes
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3.
While these may look like the stuff of horror movies to some, fried tarantulas are a popular street food in Cambodia, where they're valued as a delicious source of protein. Fried tarantulas have been described as tasting similar to crab or shrimp, with a crispy exterior and a soft, nutty flavor. The legs are particularly crispy, while the body has a delicate, white meat. Some people find it bland, while others consider it a delicacy. Do you enjoy crispy snacks?
Yes
38%
839 votes
No
36%
799 votes
Occasionally
26%
562 votes
4.
4.
You can find a version of blood pudding almost everywhere, from the U.S. to Asia to Europe. Blood pudding, also known as black pudding, is a type of blood sausage made by mixing animal blood with other ingredients like fat, grains (oats, barley, etc.), and spices. It's a traditional food item, especially in Britain, Ireland, and many European countries. While primarily made with pig blood, it can also be made with cow or sheep blood, and historically even included porpoise blood. Have you ever had blood pudding?
Yes
15%
323 votes
No
85%
1877 votes
5.
5.
Khash is a traditional Armenian soup made by simmering cow or sheep parts, often including feet and tripe, for a very long time. It's a hearty, caloric dense dish often consumed for hangover relief. Khash is also known by its variations across the Caucasus region, including in Azerbaijan and Georgia. Have you ever experienced a hangover?
Yes
42%
929 votes
No
39%
861 votes
I don't remember.
8%
165 votes
Not Applicable
11%
245 votes
COMMENTS