What does turtle taste like?

[purplepoppy]

I'm researching mock turtle soup and have found a few recipes. Most use a calves head but least one uses pigs ears cooked in medeira and a few other ingredients like anchovies. But can anyone tell me what a real turtle tastes like? They're not readily available in the U. K..

[Anonymous]

Turtle is a red meat. Fresh water soft shell turtles are the main turtle eaten in the Southern US. It tastes a lot like pork crossed with fish with a gamey and fresh water pond taste. It can be deep fried or made into a stew-gravey like dish and served over rice. I like deep fried best. Years ago you could get sea turtle in restaurants here in Florida. In Islamorada in the Keys there was a restaurant called the "The Green Sea Turtle Inn" that specialized in sea turtle. Sea turtle is way better than the soft shell turtles. It was almost like eating steak. Around Chesapeake bay in Maryland they eat a type of fresh-brackish water turtle called a terrapin, terrapin soup is famous there. I never ate them before. The land turtles or tortoises are also good eating, we call them gopher turtles. Now they are very much protected, they were eaten years ago. But most turtle meat tastes like a cross of pork and fish with a gamey touch.

[Iron_Man]

I won't eat a turtle. How do you feel about eating female animal's? Why does it always have to be female animals and never male animals?

[purplepoppy]

Both are eaten but females are easier to keep in groups as they don't try and kill each other. Then there's the problem of testosterone taint in meat that gives it an unpleasant taste.

[Iron_Man]

I've heard the female is tender and the male is to tough to eat the meat. That's why we eat cows and chickens instead of Bulls and roosters

[purplepoppy]

Most are eaten young so that wouldn't be the problem. You've only got to look at cockfighting to see why you couldn't have hundreds of roosters in one place.

[Iron_Man]

I've been to them on vacation in Puerto Rico

[Iron_Man]

Thank you for most Helpful Award GAG selection committee

[scarlett774]

I would never eat a turtle especially since they are becoming less and less everyday and going extinct maybe try eating chicken instead since everyone says it tasted like it

[bean2k21]

I was going to ask this, but searched it first, and of course you came up. Last week, one of our employees tried to serve our CIO turtle soup, made from one of the turtles that her son was keeping as pets. I can't remember the excuse the CIO came up with. But it was the funniest damn thing, to see someone gracefully decline a meal made from the family pet.

[purplepoppy]

OK bit of history. Turtle soup was once very popular in the UK. but not being common here (yes turtles live in uk waters) were rather expensive. So chefs used calves feet as a substitute and mock turtle soup was created.

[bean2k21]

@purplepoppy Oh, how fascinating. Yes, I read it's a delicacy, but I'm not sure about the family pet variety. Maybe I should try it. You never know what you might like until you try it.

[bean2k21]

@purplepoppy Oh, it appears to be illegal

[theChineseWASP]

I’ve never had it either. I would feel weird eating it turtles are so cute and harmless!!!

[theChineseWASP]

😢 😢

[purplepoppy]

Wait-you mean there's an animal the Chinese won't eat

[theChineseWASP]

I’m pretty Americanized.

[theChineseWASP]

I guess I could try it but I would still feel weird lol.

[MountAverage]

It tastes very similar to tortoise. Glad I could help!

[ChefPapiChulo]

why do women want what they’ve never had before?
actually I’m pretty much the same way. Last night I was looking up caviar to buy cause I’ve never tried it.

[purplepoppy]

I've only had lumpfish eggs not the real thing. It's ok but I wouldn't buy it again.

[ChefPapiChulo]

There’s also roe. Which are salmon eggs. I don't know it looks pretty good I’m probably gonna order some and make something really good.

[purplepoppy]

You can buy codroe in some chippies

[ChefPapiChulo]

Is it cheaper? A lot of seen is 30$ for 5 oz. obviously it’s a luxury so I’m not that surprised. But I just wanna try some good caviar.

[purplepoppy]

Can't remember the exact price to be honest.

[ChefPapiChulo]

Hmm. I’ll look into that ig. I’m thinking about making a salmon tartar, with either the caviar itself, or a caviar sauce.

[DanishSaint]

Chicken! It´s always chicken...

Unless it´s actually chicken, then it´s something else...

[BoxySama]

I never tried it, Chinatown (NYC) in the 2,000 could have if I look for it

[Mellifluous_]

I totally agree with @theChineseWASP !

[chriscdi]

im guessing like chicken

[Anonymous]

😡😡😡 SAVE THE TURTLES!!! And i ooop and i ooop

[Nik1hil]

VSCO!..

[WowwGirl]

Rubbery kinda like squid

[King_Frozen]

Remind me to never eat your dishes

[andy530]

A lot like pussy

[TCredo]

Chicken :)

[Shamalien]

y'all r sick...

[COMMODOREII]

Like chicken. 😎