There used to be a strong culture of eating wild game in our country, but in recent years we have completely given up on it. This is all the more wrong because there is an abundant and sufficient supply of game. Not to mention the fact that it is much healthier than „factory” meat from other livestock.
Obviously affects the game meat consumption is a matter of taste, and a set of habits that lead us to give it up. The game found in our country is divided into several categories, as it is not always the same whether we are talking about big game or game with wings. However, one of the most popular game is rabbit meat, which we both produce and hunt. We've come so far, that more and more people are choosing it because its meat is extremely tasty.
World rabbit consumption triples
Based on the available data, the world rabbit meat Asia accounts for more than 50% of the world's production, although Europe used to lead the way. However, Hungary is one of Europe's biggest exporters of rabbit meat to Germany, the Benelux countries, Italy and the Far East. Yet, compared to these figures, we consume far less than other countries. David Várid chef, gourmet and hunter.
- From a hunting point of view, which rabbits are different?
- There are two species: the brown hare, which can be found almost everywhere in the country, and the hollow hare. The brown hare, on the other hand, is quite difficult to breed - for the simple reason that it needs a huge area of land. Of course, if we're talking about rabbits, we should also mention the domestic rabbit, which was bred from the rabbit in the past.
- Why eat rabbit meat?
- The rabbit is always such a a majestic thing because otherwise the meat was very tasty. One of the most delicious game meats! If you were to compare it with chicken - and I, as a devotee of game gastronomy, would say that chicken has no taste, rabbit has! I like to say that rabbit meat tastes green, natural and succulent! Obviously we are not talking about the mass bred kind. The reason for this is that while chickens can be fed anything, rabbits can't digest much, so they are typically fed alfalfa and grass.
- There are obviously also differences between farmed and hunted rabbits. What are they?
- The significant difference is, of course, that the bred one has much lighter flesh. And the wild rabbit has a much redder, slightly more massive flesh, but it is also much tastier. To put it in a better way, when you eat a home-grown chicken, it has a deeper flavour than the mass-produced chicken in the shop.
- What is the reason why we hardly consume rabbit meat when there is plenty available?
- The reason is simple, because it's cute! It's the same as when you look at Bambi and see a cute deer, it wouldn't occur to you that let's hunt and cook. We have created stereotypes for ourselves that have become ingrained in the public consciousness and influence our consumption habits. Just think about it! How would we eat that cute bunny. They also mean that, sadly, we actually eat less game meat than we used to, even though rabbits have been one of the most hunted animals since ancient times. Of course, as a hunter, I say respect the game, respect the livestock and respect the ingredients, but if you can eat a chicken, you can eat a rabbit. The other half of it is that we don't just hunt it, it has always been a popular dish, especially in rural cuisine where you can find divine recipes. It's one of my favourites, by the way.
- If we asked you, as a gourmet, why we should eat rabbit meat, what would you say?
- The answer is easy! Because it's delicious! It's also much healthier than any pet, as I mentioned before, they don't eat everything, so we don't put „junk” into our bodies when we eat them. It is the healthiest of all game meats. If you want to start eating healthily, and game meat is definitely a healthy ingredient, but you are afraid to start because it tastes too strong, start with wild rabbit!
I should add, what is important, that we are very good at rabbit breeding here in Hungary. We can also say that we could be a „rabbit meat superpower”, although Australia is the biggest exporter of rabbit meat, but basically we should consume much more rabbit meat. Not to mention, we've got to the point where you can get it almost anywhere. It's just that somehow people don't rabbit it. And you can make almost anything from it. Whether it's a roast, a rabbit stew, extra good dishes.
Or I'll give you another example. A chicken has a breast meat, a rabbit has a rabbit backbone fillet, which can be used to make something so fantastic that many people wouldn't even think of it. You simply don't need to be afraid of it because it's a fantastic ingredient!#
Author: Tamás Budafoki
Photo by Pixabay, Dávid Vári
