Australia is known for its rich cuisine and dynamic food scenery, ranging from the luxurious to the truly exotic. However, not everybody is familiar with biltong, a dried meat snack cured in vinegar that originated in South Africa. Biltong is often mistaken as beef jerky, but it is so unlike it.
It’s also why many tourists flock to have a taste of this unique snack once they fly over to Australia. This article will tell you more about this snack before you Buy biltong.
History Of Biltong
The snack has been around for 400 years in South Africa. When refrigerators and freezers were still unheard of, South Africans looked for a way to preserve their food. As such, they used what was available to them — knives, salt, trees, and sticks — to make meat last longer. They cut meat into smaller pieces, salted it, and hung it on trees to dry.
Europeans who settled in their country saw the wisdom of stocking food and started adopting their method. They added their ingredients like vinegar and potassium nitrate to the mix.
Then, in the 19th century, the Dutch that settled in South Africa, who wanted to escape British rule, travelled to the islands totting the preserved meat. They called it biltong, the Dutch words for buttock (bille) and tongue (tongue).
It came to Australia because of Luke and Rory of Barbell Foods. The brothers grew up in South Africa but had been living in Australia for decades. They could not find healthy snacks they liked, so they made biltong and shared it with their friends. The rest, they say, is history.
How Is Biltong Made?
The biltong sold in Australia is made similar to how it was made centuries ago in South Africa. Its main ingredient is organic, grass-fed beef from Australia’s largest organic cattle farm and local regenerative beef farms. Another ingredient is kangaroo that is ethically harvested from the wild.
The meat is sliced into 1-inch thick strips and is coated in vinegar, salt, pepper, and other spices to make biltong. The vinegar is what gives biltong its distinct taste. After marinating it, it is left to dry in a dry area with good air circulation.
The drying process is dependent on the weather. If the weather is dry, it can be ready in 5 days and longer if it is wet.
A fully dried biltong is reduced to half its size. If properly packaged, it can last for a few months.
Is Biltong Healthy?
Biltong is a good source of protein because it is made from pure meat. It contains all nine essential amino acids. It not only tastes good, but a serving of it can provide your body with half of your daily protein needs. It is also packed with zinc, selenium, B6, B12, and iron. Most of the vitamins and minerals in the meat are retained because biltong is never heated or dehydrated.
This snack is keto, paleo, and Whole30 friendly. It is also low on carbohydrates and sugar. It is also 100% gluten-free.
How To Enjoy Biltong?
Biltong is great as a snack. However, you can also use it for sandwiches, stews, and rice toppings. Check out Barbel Foods if you want to Buy biltong in Australia.
People looking for a healthy snack will find biltong as a good option. It is filled with vitamins and minerals and is very flavorful. Thus, the culinary possibilities of biltong end with your imagination.
