Nutrias are native to South America and are commonly referred to as river rats in Southern Russia, says the Moscow Times. The large orange-toothed rodents are notoriously prolific breeders and are bred for their cheap fur.
But with many Russians on the brink of poverty, nutria meat has made its way into the kitchen. People found that the river rat’s meat was not only nutritious but easy to cook. According to the Guardian, the meat has a taste somewhat between rabbit or perhaps something akin to turkey or pork.
Chef and restaurateur Takhir Kholikberdiev, a 35-year-old who comes from Krasnodar, told the Guardian the nutria or coypu meat comes from his full-cycle meat farm in the Krasnodar region. This region is also called Kuban, the home of Russia’s Kuban Cossacks.
Kholikberdiev says that people who are turned off by the thought of eating a rodent are just misinformed. “It’s a really clean animal; not only is it a herbivore but it washes all its food before it eats. And it’s very high in omega-3 acids. A lot of doctors and dietitians recommend it.”
Omega-3 acids or not, time will tell as to whether the new culinary delight will take hold in the stomachs of middle-class Muscovites. For those with an adventurous palate, there are nutria burgers, hot dogs, dumplings, and nutria wrapped in cabbage leaves on the menu.
Lonely Planet says the opening of the Krasnodar with its unusual menu has inspired other bistros in Moscow to put the nutria on their menus, so Muscovites will have plenty of choices if they want to taste a rat-burger for themselves.