Following on from the South and Central America, Europe and Asia editions of unique, different and downright weird foods from around the world, we now travel to North America. A list of strange North American foods to try could be extremely long, as every state offers their own unique cuisine, so we have done our best to choose the worst of the worst.
Stinkheads, Alaska, USA
The heads of King salmon are buried underground for several weeks, allowing them to ferment and create a pungent mush. Salmon forms a significant part of the diet in Alaska, and this dish comes from the traditional native diet – making its existence much more understandable and acceptable, but not really increasing its appeal.
Southern fried rattlesnakes, south-west USA
Southern fried rattlesnakes are the south-western states’ answer to France’s frog legs – and apparently taste quite similar. The name of the dish makes this one fairly self-explanatory. Preparation involves boiling the meat to separate from the bones, covering in seasoning and breadcrumbs, and deep frying.
Turtle soup, USA
The meat, skin and innards of the snapping turtle are prepared with various spices to create this thick, gravy-like soup, which is now illegal in many places it was once served. You will still find it in certain parts of the US, or the alternative snapper soup made from red snapper.
Rocky mountain oysters, USA
Rocky mountain oysters sound misleadingly innocent and delicious, but be warned, these are not oysters at all – they are bull’s testicles fried in a batter of flour, salt and pepper. Often served with fries.
Jellied moose nose, Canada
Those are three words you never thought you would see together – let alone as the name of a food people actually eat. The majestic moose’s nose is boiled with onions and spices, before the hair is removed and the nose is boiled again. It is then sliced, covered with a broth and left to set as a jelly. Delicious, eh.
Alligator, Florida, USA
As home of more than a million alligators, Florida has no shortage of the animal – and no shortage of ideas for how to make the most of that. Commercial farms grow the alligators used to make a variety of dishes, including deep-fried, burgers and gator hash.
SPAM, USA
This questionable canned meat is well-known across the world, with billions of cans sold since it was introduced in the 1930s – and where else would it hail from except the USA? Its ingredients include ham meat with salt, water and modified potato starch. In Hawaii, you can even enjoy it as part of a sushi dish called SPAM musubi.
Courtney Gahan is an Aussie serial expat, traveller and freelance writer who has bartered with Moroccan marketeers, seen the sunrise at Angkor Wat and elbowed her way through crowds on NYE in NYC. Currently based in Amsterdam.