Are you a fan of eating less conventional meats from animals found in the wild? If yes, it is only normal to wonder how hedgehog meat tastes and whether they can be eaten without health complications especially if a couple have been spotted living on your property.

This article answers the question “What Does Hedgehog Taste Like?” by revealing the genuine taste of hedgehog meat from folks with first-hand experience. We also reveal cultures around the world where hedgehogs are a delicacy and a few recipes that could be worth trying. Let’s get started.

What Does Hedgehog Taste Like?

Hedgehog meat has a sharp pork-like flavor according to folks with first-hand experience. The texture is quite chewy and may take some time to get used to, especially for those with no exotic meat consumption experience. Popular hedgehog recipes include Roasted Hedgehog, Hedgehog Meatballs, and Sauteed Hedgehog Mushrooms.

If you’re curious whether hedgehogs are edible, know that the meat is legitimately eaten by different cultures around the world. It does not contain toxins and consumption poses no health risks as long as it is well-cooked.

However, hedgehogs are illegal to eat in many states, and killing them for meat purposes could land you into some serious trouble. We recommend finding out what local laws say about killing hedgehogs and more importantly cooking them as food.

The legal ramifications could be too strong not to conduct proper research before your first kill. Remember, even rodents like hamsters are popularly eaten by some cultures in Latin America and other parts of the globe but are forbidden in many areas of the Western world.

Nutritional Benefits of Eating Hedgehog Meat

Hedgehog meat offers numerous nutritional benefits for the human body and a few are discussed below.

• Proteins
• Carbohydrates
• Vitamins
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Manganese
• Potassium
• Zinc

Do Any Cultures Eat Hedgehogs?

Your interest in consuming hedgehog meat is neither gross nor perverted because it has served as a delicacy for many cultures around the world for centuries. Locations and tribes where hedgehogs were formerly popular or are still enjoyed today include:

• Ancient Egypt
• Ancient Britain
• Romani people (they still enjoy hedgehog meat today)
• Ancient Eurasia
• Ancient Africa

Each culture had a distinct method for cooking hedgehog meat. For instance, the ancient Brits wrapped hedgehog meat in leaves before cooking to prevent it from burning. The Gypsies, on the other hand, wrapped clay around the hedgehog’s body before roasting it.

Breaking off the hard clay after roasting removed the spines from the hedgehog’s body so the meat could be enjoyed with ease.

Method for Roasting Hedgehogs in Medieval Times

Many cultures around the world roast hedgehog meat for consumption. Here’s the step-by-step process if you want to try it one day.

• Cut the hedgehog’s throat making sure all the blood is drained
• Put the carcass on an open fire to burn the spines and other external areas of the body
• Gut the carcass to remove intestines and other internal organs
• Truss the hedgehog meat by tying a series of interlinked knots to secure the meat
• Press the meat in a fresh towel until it is completely dry
• Roast the hedgehog meat until it is ready
• Eat the meat with cameline sauce or in pastry with wild duck sauce

How To Bake Hedgehog Meat Balls

Hedgehog meatballs can be enjoyed by anyone interested in making a tasty meal out of hedgehog meat. The recipe is outlined below:

Ingredients

• 1lb ground hedgehog meat
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 onion chopped into even strands
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 egg

Instructions

1. Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl with a spatula
2. Shape mixture into 24 1.5-inch meatballs
3. Heat the oven to 400F and line the appropriate pan with aluminum foil and butter
4. Bake the meatballs uncovered for approximately 20 minutes until the temperature is 160F
5. Serve hedgehog meatballs as desired

How To Make Sauteed Hedgehog Mushrooms

Sauteed Hedgehog Mushrooms is another popular Hedgehog recipe enjoyed by different cultures around the world. The ingredients and preparatory steps are as follows:

Ingredients

• 1 pound hedgehog meat
• 1 pound of fresh mushrooms
• 1/2 clove garlic
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 tablespoon salt

Instructions

1. Trim and clean the mushroom
2. Wash the mushroom in a bowl of cool water
3. Chop the mushrooms into small slices
4. Put the frying pan over high heat
5. Add a tablespoon of butter to the frying pan and allow to melt
6. Add the mushrooms to the melted butter in the frying pan and stir until it is brown
7. Add the garlic to the mushrooms
8. Add the cooked hedgehog meat to the mushrooms and allow to brown
9. Remove the frying pan from the fire and sprinkle some salt before serving

Are Hedgehogs Pork?

Hedgehog meat may come with a pork-like taste but it is not pork. If you do not eat pork for health or religious reasons, hedgehogs could be eaten as long as it is legal in your city or state. Many places around the world have stringent laws against consuming endangered animals like hedgehogs so you may have to seek legal advice first.

Do Gypsies Still Eat Hedgehogs?

Many members of the Gypsy community across different parts of Europe still consume hedgehog meat. It is a traditional delicacy enjoyed for centuries and many of them have no intention of giving up the habit.

British Heavyweight Boxing Champion Tyson Fury recently admitted to still eating hedgehogs in an interview. According to Fury, his recipe involves marinating hedgehog meat in honey, putting it on a clay tray, and baking it in the oven.

While local laws in the UK frown upon domesticating hedgehogs, it is not illegal to eat them as meat, and apparently, many folks in the Traveller community still enjoy the traditional delicacy.

Conclusion: What Does Hedgehog Taste Like?

Hedgehogs taste like pork but with a sharper flavor and chewy texture that may take some getting used to. Hedgehogs are enjoyed by many cultures around the world from the Romani tribes in Europe to Ancient Egyptians and other cultures across the Eurasia region.

Hedgehogs have also been traditionally consumed across different parts of East, West, and Southern Africa as well as Ancient Britain. Different cultures have different recipes but fortunately, hedgehogs are not poisonous and consumption should not have any negatives for your health.

Always make sure hedgehog meat is fully cooked to eliminate the risk of exposure to parasites and other disease-causing organisms.