Savor the Exotic: What Does Hippopotamus Taste Like? (2024)

The hippopotamus is one of the most dangerous animals in Africa but has a reputation as being too slow and cumbersome to be much of a threat.

Have you ever wondered what does hippopotamus taste like? I can tell you that it’s not a very common dish in the Western world. But, that doesn’t mean it isn’t eaten.

There are cultures out there that eat hippo meat regularly. They’re one of the most popular meats to be found in Africa.

So why don’t we hear more about this tasty treat and how is it cooked? Well, you’ll find all of those answers here today.

What is Hippo?

It’s not every day you come across an animal that can weigh up to 8,000 pounds. Hippos are large and semi-aquatic mammals found in sub-Saharan Africa. Known as a “common river horse“.

They’re also known for being too slow to be much of a threat, and have been called ‘vegetarian sharks,’ because their jaws can snap down on prey with surprising speed.

They can be dangerous if they feel threatened but are usually just looking for a good meal. Hippo meat is a popular food in Africa and is considered a delicacy.

The meat of the hippo can be cooked many different ways: grilled; roasted over an open fire or spit-roasted on top coals from wood fires (a traditional method.

What Does Hippopotamus Taste Like? Does Hippo Meat Taste Good?

As mentioned, hunter-gatherers in Africa have been eating hippo meat for centuries.

The taste of the flesh is often described as being similar to beef, with a slightly sweet flavor and tough texture that can be improved by marinating it before cooking or smoking over an open fire. What makes hippo meat distinctive from other meats is the fat content.

The meat of a hippo has about three times more unsaturated fats than beef, which means that it can be cooked without any added oil or butter and still taste juicy – even if you’re cooking over an open fire with just coals from wood fires (a traditional method).

Hippopotamus also has less cholesterol in their flesh than other animals like cows do because they don’t produce as much LDL-cholesterol when compared to cattle who are fed corn diets for fattening purposes.

Traditionally, Africans have hunted hippos for their meat, but it’s not a common dish in the west.

Hippo is most often served as steaks or ground into hamburger-style patties that can be grilled and eaten like any other beef burger patty – though they’re usually much larger than your average cow burger.

The taste of this unusual animal varies depending on how you cook them; if cooked with spices such as cumin seeds then its flavor will resemble venison (deer).

While cooking without seasoning gives off more pork flavors because pigs are also omnivores who eat both plants & animals just to survive.

So when people compare these two types of meat side by each there aren’t too many differences between them.

Best Way to Cook Hippo Meat?

The hippo is an unusual animal, but there are many ways to cook it. One way is by grilling the steaks or ground patties over a fire, which gives it an almost barbecue-like flavor and texture that’s both juicy & tender on your palate.

Another option for cooking this unusual animal would be in stews like beef stew with vegetables such as potatoes carrots onions celery garlic peppers tomatoes etc., but you can also use other spices if desired.

It will be a little bit more difficult to cook the meat because it’s so tough, but with a few tricks, you’ll be able to make this animal taste delicious.

The first trick is by boiling or simmering for hours and then adding in some vegetables such as potatoes carrots onions celery garlic peppers tomatoes etc., which will help tenderize & flavor your dish.

The second tip would involve marinating overnight before cooking – if possible try using vinegar-based sauces like soy sauce that are high on acidity levels (which helps break down proteins).

Conclusion

Hippo is quite a unique animal, and it’s not often that you’ll find people eating hippo meat. It’s hard to say what the taste of hippo meat is like because it varies from person to person.

However, if you’re looking for a new exotic dish that will be sure to make your mouth water then try cooking up some tasty Hippopotamus.

About The Author