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One of the delicacies of Cambodia is bat soup, extremely popular
in the district of Kandal Province. Like many Asian
dishes, this particular soup is deemed to have medicinal qualities
and is sometimes consumed as a remedy for certain ailments.
For example, the presence of bats blood in the soup is said
to help respiratory disorders and if you are lucky enough
to have eyeballs included, these will help cure any eye problem
that you may have.
Serving suggestion
In local restaurants, the soup is prepared for you in much
the same manner as a plate of fresh lobster would be prepared
at a seafood restaurant on the Mediterranean. The waiter will
present you with a cage of live bats from which you can choose
the particular screaming furry creature that you would like
to eat. Bat can be ordered cooked, in the form of soup, or
eaten raw. If you are brave enough to order it raw, the actual
preparation of the bat is done right in front of you, including
the slaughter and skinning, which may make you wish you knew
how to say, "I feel nauseous" in Khmer (try "kh'nyohm
jawng k'uat"). If ordered cooked, the chosen bat or two
are then taken back to the kitchen, where they are transformed
into a delectable soup.
Once you have gotten over the traumatizing concept of exactly
what you are eating, bat can be quite tasty! Frequent diners
say that each time is a new culinary experience in that the
dish will have a strong aroma and flavour influenced by whatever
the bats have been eating in advance of their untimely death.
I Say waiter, there's a bat in my soup!
Simply throwing the live bats into a large pot of boiling
water starts the soup. Next, some ginger is added accompanied
by a large chopped onion with salt and pepper to taste. After
three-quarters of an hour or so, the bats are removed and
skinned. All the meat, and any other interesting parts, depending
on your particular aches and pains of the day, will be removed
from the bone and returned to the broth. Once heated through,
the soup is poured into bowls and served with sides of onions,
soy sauce and coconut cream. Wash this down with some bats
blood and rice wine or the locally brewed Angkor beer. Bon
Appetite!
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