10 of the grossest dishes in a country, according to the locals

That you, as a tourist, turn your nose up at some foreign dishes – remember surströmming? – isn’t that strange. You don’t know it, you didn’t grow up with it, and if something smells or is made from offal, you can’t expect most people to happily tuck into it. Right? There are local dishes that locals consider genuine delicacies. But there are also dishes that even the locals can’t stomach. And believe me, then it must be truly revolting. 

Spain, France, Scandinavia: we’ve already made an entire series featuring ‘delicacies’ from countries you might want to avoid. Good preparation for your trip is half the battle, right? If you’ve planned a holiday to one of the following countries and see the dishes below on the menu, turn around and leave. These are 10 disgusting dishes that the locals themselves also find appalling.

Czech Republic: cow stomach soup

Cow stomach soup, also known as tripe soup, is a typical Czech dish that even the locals apparently prefer to leave alone. It may be seasoned deliciously with onions, paprika and garlic, but the words ‘cow stomach’ have already set the tone.

Pakistan: Katta-kat

Not a fan of organ meat? Then Pakistani Katta-kat is not the dish for you. Not at all. It is made with fried goat and lamb testicles, kidneys and a whole host of other offal. Although it is a truly traditional meal in Pakistan, many residents would still rather leave a plate of Katta-kat untouched.

Norway: Lutefisk

For many Norwegians, Lutefisk is a definite no-go. It is white fish – often cod – that is salted in lye. This entire process creates a kind of jelly-like substance around the fish, which many people really don’t enjoy. If you’re just in the middle of learning to eat fish, a plate of Lutefisk will definitely ruin it for you.

Poland: duck blood soup

Another unusual soup, but this time made with duck blood. A true Polish classic that unfortunately has few Polish fans. It is said that this soup is served to male fiancés by parents who do not want the man in question to marry their daughter. But whether that’s true… In any case, I find it a terrifying thought.

Iran: Khash

Khash originally comes from Iran, but it is also widely eaten in Afghanistan, Albania, Turkey, Bulgaria, Armenia, Iraq and Georgia, among other places. Or rather, widely… It isn’t a hugely popular dish. Khash consists of boiled parts of a cow or sheep, such as the head, feet and tripe. Many people drink it with vodka, which is why many haters call it ‘just a good excuse to drink vodka first thing in the morning’. And yes, you read that right: this dish is also eaten early in the morning.

Italy: Casu Marzu

It seems almost inconceivable that there could be anything in Italian cuisine that isn’t delicious. Yet there is one ‘delicacy’ that towers above the rest, and that is Casu Marzu. Cheese with maggots in it. We can’t really blame the Italians for also preferring to give this one a wide berth.

Croatia: Hladetina

Is there even a single ingredient in the world that becomes tastier when you put it in a layer of jelly? Hladetina is literally meat in jelly and a dish that originally comes from Croatia. You can dress it up with brightly colored vegetables and eggs, but it remains meat in jelly. That doesn’t make very many people happy – not in Croatia either.

Indonesia: Nasi Aking

Nasi Aking is cooked, old rice that has been dried in the sun. It is actually intended as a meal for poorer Indonesians who don’t have enough money to buy fresh food. This way, the population also helps combat food waste. Wealthier Indonesians say that Nasi Aking shows them ‘how bad life can actually be’. Pretty sad, then.

Philippines: Balut

In the mood for a fertilized and steamed egg embryo? No thanks, I’ll pass. And apparently quite a few Filipinos feel the same way.

Australia: Vegemite

Vegemite is a dark brown, savory spread from Australia. It is made from leftover yeast extract from beer production. I found it quite surprising that it apparently isn’t hugely popular in Australia itself. During my trip through North America, I met Australians who missed this little yellow jar terribly. I tried it myself too and honestly thought it was quite tasty, especially on toasted bread with a smear of butter. But of course, everyone has their own taste.

Read also:

• Brrr: these are the 10 grossest drinks ever made
• Know before you go: 10 Portuguese dishes you might want to avoid
• Know before you go: 12 German dishes and drinks that sound funnier than they taste

Source: BoredPanda