Rat-on-a-stick

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Barbecued rats for sale near Suphan Buri, Thailand

Rat-on-a-stick, also referred to as rat kebab, is a dish or snack consisting of a roasted rat served on a stick or skewer.[1] The dish is consumed in Thailand and Vietnam.[2] Prior to roasting, the rat is typically skinned and washed, after which it is gutted to remove its internal organs and then roasted.

By country[edit]

Rat meat is considered by some people in South Vietnam, East and Northeast India,[3][4][5] and Thailand to be a delicacy. In recent times, its popularity has increased in both countries.[6][1] It is also served as a street food in these countries. Rat kebab became so popular it also started to appear in a number of elegant restaurants.[citation needed] Rat kebab is also a dish in some Cantonese recipes.[7]

Source of rats[edit]

According to a BBC report, the rats are wild, and caught by professionals using traps.[8]

In popular culture[edit]

Rat-on-a-stick has been consumed by contestants on the U.S. reality television show Survivor.[a]

On 14 March 2019, Vietnamese rat meat has been featured on National Geographic. [10]

In the movie "Demolition Man," Sylvester Stallone's character inadvertently orders a hamburger made of rat meat.

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "Live larvae for lunch and rat-on-a-stick for dinner may be the reality for the castaways on CBS's hit show Survivor..."[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Shukla, Pragati (June 23, 2017). "Halloween Horror: Rat on a Stick". NDTV. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  2. ^ Molloy, M.J.; Duschinsky, P.; Jensen, K.F.; Shalka, R.J. (2017). Running on Empty: Canada and the Indochinese Refugees, 1975-1980. McGill-Queen's Studies in Ethnic History. MQUP. p. 323. ISBN 978-0-7735-5063-6. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  3. ^ "A royal 'Mughlai' feast at Delhi Masala - Times of India". The Times of India.
  4. ^ "This community is forced to eat rats and we are baking plum cakes for Christmas!". recipes.timesofindia.com. December 21, 2017.
  5. ^ "Rats in India are fed or become food, depending on where they live" – via www.youtube.com.
  6. ^ McFadyen, Siobhan (October 19, 2015). "Rice farmers rake in extra cash during harvest season". Daily Mirror. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  7. ^ Mitchinson, J.; Lloyd, J. (2008). The Book of Animal Ignorance: Everything You Think You Know Is Wrong. Crown/Archetype. p. 176. ISBN 978-0-307-44991-7. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  8. ^ "Rats on the Roast". 2012-02-14.
  9. ^ U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News Publishing Corporation. 2000. p. 37. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  10. ^ "In Vietnam, rats are a popular food—here's why". Animals. March 14, 2019. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]