Frog legs are no different from what they sound like, the legs of edible frogs. Frog legs are an important element in Chinese and French cuisines. These frogs are caught in the wild, or commercially raised in farms. Frog legs can be used in different capacities and are eaten in various cuisines around the world.
Before you can eat frog legs, it has to be cleaned and skinned. There are man purveyors who sell frog legs ready-made so you don’t have to do all of that by yourself. If you are skeptical about trying out frog legs, keep reading to find out what they taste like and how you could use them in your cooking.
What do frog legs taste like? Frog legs are usually compared to chicken because they have a texture similar to chicken wings. The flavor and feel of frog legs can be similar to chicken or fish. But frog legs are best compared to fish because they have that fishy flavor and odor. They have a mild flavor that makes them perfect for inclusion in other dishes because they can absorb any flavor you pair them with.
Frog legs can be classified as lean meat because they are low in fat and cholesterol and have a lot of nutritional benefits to offer the human body.
Nutritional Benefits of Frog Legs
Frog legs have a lot of value to offer the body. They can serve as a substitute for chicken and meat in many dishes and recipes for a weight loss diet. Frog legs have a fat content that is 10 times lower than a similar serving of chicken breasts.
If you are trying to lower your intake of fat and reduce weight, frog legs are a perfect substitution because they keep your protein intake up while keeping fat out of your diet as much as possible. You can keep your protein intake up because frog legs are a very good source of protein. In a 100 gram serving of frog legs, you have about 16 grand worth of protein. Protein is important to the body, it helps to build muscles and regenerate damaged cells.
Frog legs contain omega 6 fatty acids. These acids are responsible for proper brain function and can boost cognitive development. It helps to improve memory and reduces the risk of the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease at a later age.
The presence of omega 6 fatty acids in one’s life can help to contribute to the overall well-being of any individual. Also, frog legs contain a healthy amount of potassium. Potassium is needed to strengthen the muscles in the body and reduce fatigue that can occur from stress and strain.
Frog legs contain a lot of micronutrients that play important roles in the human body. Iron is necessary to help transport oxygen to organs and tissues in the body. Magnesium also enhances enzymes in the body and helps them to carry out their function in the body more efficiently. Magnesium also ensures that the cardiovascular system is healthy. All these micronutrients and more are present in frog legs.
Lastly, frog legs have antibiotic properties that can keep bacteria infections and everyday illnesses away. With all of these nutritional benefits, the inclusion of frog legs into one’s diet is a safe bet.
Culinary Uses of Frog Legs
There are various ways you can cook frog legs but they need to be skinned and cleaned before you cook them. The skin from frog legs is edible but the flavor is very strong and overpowering so it is usually removed.
The feet from the legs are inedible and are usually cut off, but some people do leave them on for cooking before cutting them off after. Frog legs can be skinned with sharp kitchen shears or a paring knife. But if you don’t want to go through all that trouble buy from butcher shops that have it cleaned and skinned already.
Cuisses De grenouilles à la Provençale is a classic French dish that involves the use of frog legs. The frog legs are dredged in seasoning flour, then sautèed in butter or olive oil, with the addition of spices like parsley and garlic.
In places like China and Indonesia, frog legs are used in stir fry dishes, deep-fried or pan-fried, or used in stews and soups. In the United States, frog legs are dipped in batter and deep-fried. This feels and tastes a lot like chicken wings. If you are brave enough, there is a lot you could do with frog legs in the kitchen.
What is the History of Frog Legs? How to Procure Them?
Frog legs are commonly eaten in France, China, Indonesia, Italy, Slovenia, and all over Central and Eastern Europe. There has been evidence pointing to the fact the British have been eating frog legs before the French.
Even though frogs are considered repellent to the Britons. Frogs are usually hunted in the wild then, their legs are cut off and the rest of the body is discarded. This way of harvesting frog legs has been regarded as animal cruelty to some because some people cut off the legs of the frogs without killing them and then discard them leaving them to die. A drop in the reptilian population because of how much frog legs are popular has led to the commercial production of frogs for their legs.
The consumption of wild frogs is now being discouraged worldwide, to keep them from going extinct. In the Caribbean, frogs are now regarded as an endangered species. In the Southern part of the United States where French influence is strong, frog legs are eaten especially bullfrogs and leopard frogs.
If you want to have some frog legs, you can walk into any French restaurant and check through their menu, or go to a grocery store or butcher shop to buy them.
Is it Safe to Eat Frog Legs?
Eating frog legs is as safe as eating a slice of beef or a chuck of chicken breasts. The only way eating frogs can become unsafe is if you eat the wrong kind of frog. If you are just randomly hunting frogs from the wild to eat their legs, you could get sick and maybe die depending on what frog you have eaten because there are poisonous frogs.
Facts You Don’t Know About Frog Legs
- Frog legs can be stored if you don’t feel like eating them right away. They can be stored for up to 5 days in the refrigerator and can last even longer in the freezer.
- Frog is a nickname in English for a French person. This adaptation has been around since the 18th century.