If you were in the desert and the only available thing to eat was Camel meat, would you rather fast or feast?
Well, we know people who would feast on camel soup even if there were options.
There is a growing camel soup craze in some parts of Africa, mostly fuelled by the belief that the soup improves libido and fertility.
Every day at noon, men aged between 20-50 years drink their “daily dose” of the soup, milk or meat all in the hope that it will help them with their sex life.
It’s not just the soup. Camel products are increasingly getting acceptance worldwide.
Camel milk and meat are good sources of nutrients for people living in especially the arid and urban areas. Camel milk and meat are unique from others in terms of composition and claimed health effects.
When it comes to composition, Camel milk has low cholesterol, high minerals such as sodium, potassium, iron, copper, zinc and magnesium. It is also high in vitamin C when compared with other ruminant milk. Camel milk also contains various fatty acids, enzymes and protective proteins and has potential therapeutic effects, such as antibacterial, antiviral, antidiabetic, anti-ageing and anticarcinogenic.
The medicinal properties of camel milk can be attributed to the presence of protective proteins, which may possibly play a pivotal role in the enhancement of immune defence mechanisms. Not only camel milk but also camel meat, in general, is considered a functional food for cures and remedy for many ailments such as sciatica, seasonal fever, asthma, shoulder pain in many cultures around the world.
Aides being used for transportation, entertainment, celebration and competition (racing and beauty show), its tough meat is enjoyed in soups.
Do you have access to Camel meat and want to try one? Here’s a recipe;
Ingredients:
- 1 medium sized fresh camel meat
- Salt
- Pepper (optional)
Instruction:
Cut camel meat into bite-size pieces and place them in a pot.
Fill the pot with water and allow to boil for an hour (since camel’s hide is hard).
Drain the boiling water (it purifies the meat and bone)and refill the pot with water.
Add a spoonful of garlic and ginger.
Add half a spoonful of Tumeric powder, pepper and salt.
Add a big bulb of chopped onions.
Add Lemon Juice (optional) and mix well.
You can add other roots and spices available like Cardamom, Cloves, Cinnamon.
Cook on a pressure cooker because the cooking can last up to four hours! (You want tender meat right?).
Keep adding water if the water reduces.
When the meat becomes tender, add tomato paste and let it boil for a little longer.
Then add vegetables like mint leaves and green coriander, close the lid and put off the heat/fire.
You can serve after a few minutes of simmering.
It might be a long process, but worth the try. After all, the benefits far outweigh the stress.
Note: There is no scientific study to support the claim that camel soup has the ability to prevent infertility and improves libido.