Frog Legs Are Quite RibbitingBy: Evita Basilio
Meats that are red when raw are defined as “red” meats, and they include lamb, beef, pork and some others. Meats that are white when cooked are defined as “white” meats, which includes meat from poultry like chicken and turkey. I prefer consuming more white than red meats.
But, poultry can also get a little boring. Are you bored of your usual meats like chicken and turkey? Why not get a little adventurous and try amphibian meat like frog legs? Frog legs are one of the better-known delicacies of Cantonese and French cuisine and are eaten in several other parts of the world. They are often said to taste like chicken because of their mild flavour, with a texture most similar to chicken wings. The taste and texture of frog meat is approximately between chicken and fish.
We’ll break down the nutrition information and compare 100 grams (g) of frog, chicken and turkey legs.
|Calories (kcal)||Protein (g)||Fat (g)|
Frog legs are low in calories and fat and about the same in protein compared to chicken and turkey. All three types of meat are high in minerals like potassium and phosphorus. Potassium is important for maintaining normal fluid and electrolytes balance, nerve transmission and muscle contraction. Phosphorus is needed for mineralization of bones and teeth, and is important for genetic material and energy transfer.
Protein is an important component of every cell in the body. Hair and nails are mostly made of protein. Your body uses protein to build and repair tissues. You also use protein to make enzymes, hormones, and other body chemicals. Protein is an important building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood. The DRI (Dietary Reference Intake) is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, or 0.36 grams per pound. This amounts to needing 56 grams per day for the average sedentary man and 46 grams per day for the average sedentary woman (based on a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet).
The fat content is mostly unsaturated fat, and you can eliminate most of the saturated fat by removing the skin. Replacing saturated and trans fat in your diet with unsaturated fat has been shown to decrease the risk of developing heart disease. To know more about protein and fat, visit our nutrition centre.
Wondering how to cook the frog legs? Try this simple recipe – Sautéed Frog Legs. However to cut out the saturated fat and make the recipe healthier, substitute the 16 tbsp of clarified butter with 8 tbsp of Alligga Flaxseed Cooking Oil and add a little chicken stock to the oil to make the sauce. Delicious!
Frog legs are still comparatively expensive and harder to find, so definitely give them a try however sticking to the other healthy poultry meats might be easier on your bank account and on the frog population.