13 July,2016 12:40 PM IST | | midday online correspondent
Dog meat is just as common as chicken in Nagaland's butcher shops! Rotten potatoes are consumed in some parts of the North East. We look at seven bizarre and weird foods that are consumed around the country
Dog meat: Although considered taboo in India, the Tibeto-Burmese speaking tribal communities in the Northeast Indian border state of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur consider dog meat a delicacy and consume dishes made out of it.
Black rice: Known as 'Magic Rice' due to its tendency to change colour from black to purple when cooked, it grows natually in India and China. It's a staple food in Manipur and is eaten with coconut milk. Black rice is called Chakhao angouba in Manipur, which means 'delicious rice'. It is rich in essential amino acids like lysine and tryptophan; vitamins such as thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), and folic acid (B9); and dietary minerals including iron, zinc, calcium, and phosphorus and thus has many health benefits.
Frog legs: Delicacies made out of frog legs is popular in many parts of Kerala, Goa, and Sikkim. They are mostly consumed in fried and stewed form. Fried frog legs are usually eaten with liqour and hence are a popular side dish in toddy shops. Frog legs are termed 'Jumping Chicken' is Goa and is a favourite food in Sikkim due to it's apparent abilities to cure stomach ailments.
Phan Pyut: This may be hard to believe. People in North East actually eat rotten potatoes! Instead of harvesting them ripe, the potatoes are left untouched until they rot, which are then picked and consumed either in their natural form or cooked with spices.
Eri Polu: It's a dish prepared from Eri silkworm pupas in Assam. The prime ingredient, the eri silkworm is used after it has left it's cocoon. The silk obtained from the worm is called 'fabric of peace' since the insect isn't killed while processing it.
