Yak Burger Is Juicier Than Beef

High in the mountains of the Himalayas, in that location is a relative of the common cow that continues to baffle scientists: Bos grunniens, the smaller and domesticated offspring of the wild yak.

And while native tribes of the Himalayas have raised, cared for, and relied on yaks for centuries, no i is entirely certain when, where, and how they became domesticated.

In this article, we'll be taking a closer look at everything yak: What yak meat tastes like, how nutritious yak is, where to notice yak meat to endeavor yourself, and how to cook it for the best results possible.

So even if you don't have plans to eat yak meat in the near future, this guide will prepare you with enough of trivia for your side by side dinner party.

Where Does Yak Meat Come From?

Despite its scientific obscurity, finding yak meat outside of its native region isn't as difficult as you might expect.

Because of the ease with which they tin can exist domesticated — and the range of habitats they tin can survive in — yaks tin at present exist found effectually the globe.

Simply no matter where a herd of yaks is raised, they'll come from stock that was originally institute in the Himalayas. They're an of import source of food — both meat and milk — for peoples in India, Tibet, Mongolia, Siberia, Myanmar, and Southwest China.

Simply it's Tibet that lays the near claim to both wild and domesticated yaks; the Tibetan language even gives united states our English language proper noun for the animal.

What Does Yak Meat Sense of taste Like?

Yak meat is another of the "alternative" meats that enjoyed a push for popularity in the early 2000s (and fifty-fifty into the 2010s).

Aslope bison, ostrich, rabbit, goat, emu, camel, and more than, farmers and ranchers attempted to introduce meats that were healthier than beefiness and pork; not only for human health, but better for the environment and climate as well.

And while you may have noticed that these meats failed to overtake beefiness and pork as America's favorite proteins, the remnants of this endeavour have left people with stiff impressions and opinions most the more exotic meats' tastes.

Writing for the New York Times in 2003, prior to her widespread cookbook fame, Melissa Clark had this to say about yaks:

Yak is as lean every bit venison or bison (about v percent fat, compared to about 15 percent for beef), and, to some, tastes juicier, sweeter and more than delicate.

She and so goes on to interview a yak rancher, who observes that "[yaks] only swallow about a third of what a cow eats and can forage for food without dissentious the environment… [and] they are pretty disease-resistant, so they don't demand any hormones or antibiotics."

Taken in total, this paints quite the picture for a meat that's delicious, nutritious, and skilful for our delicate ecosystems.

And since they're naturally hardier than cattle, yaks can easily survive without the hormones and antibiotics that can compromise the gustation of beefiness and pork.

Clark is not the only ane who has noticed that yak meat is a delicious alternative to beef. Writing for Outside Online in 2014, Katherine LaGrave makes an impassioned plea for why you should be eating yak burgers over beef patties:

Yak meat, which is almost 95 percent fatty-gratuitous, is naturally ultra lean, and a unique distribution of its fatty acid percentages make information technology high in moisture content. The result: an incredibly juicy meat. It'southward as well high in "skilful" fats, low in "bad" fats, and contains just 20 to 30 percent of beefiness'due south Palmitic acrid, the almost common fatty acid found in animals and plants.

All of that is more than astonishing when you also take into account that yak hair is a highly valuable natural cobweb used for making clothes and blankets, and their milk is densely nutritious and filled with natural probiotics. The humble yak truly is one of the near amazing creatures you'll find on this planet.

And thankfully, even while many other "exotic" meats have fallen by the wayside for American farmers, yaks' durable and resilient nature has helped them to hold on every bit a hope for healthier meats and healthier environments.

Writing for DCist in 2019, Gabe Bullard provided this update on the viability of yaks in our electric current food culture:

It would have massive shifts in public habit, police, and agricultural practices for truly wild animals to overtake beef, pork, and poultry. Only at that place'southward a growing market for [yaks], which offering an hands farmed deviation from the norm.

Once once more it looks like compared to beef, yak is hands the ameliorate choice for sense of taste, the environment, and human being health.

Were it not for the financial and political power of the beefiness industry, our dinner plates might be filled with sustainable yak burgers and steaks. Simply peradventure this twelvemonth actually will be the twelvemonth for yak to strike it big.

Yak Meat Nutrition

As we've already mentioned, yak meat is a wonderfully salubrious alternative to beef. Here are the exact facts for its nutritional composition in a 4 oz serving, courtesy of Texasyaks.com:

Calories: 170
Full fatty 8 thou
Saturated Fat 3.5 g
Trans Fat 0 1000
Cholesterol 60 mg
Sodium 100 mg
Poly peptide 23 g

Taken together, that paints a picture of a high-poly peptide and low fat meat that'south skilful for overall health, and even fit for a heart-good for you diet. It's loaded with atomic number 26 and B vitamins besides, farther adding to yak'due south potential health benefits for all people.

For an fifty-fifty farther exploration of all the ways that yak tin can do good people and planet, bank check out this video from Dr. Josh Axe on YouTube:

How to Cook Yak Meat

I of the true beauties of yak meat is that although it is seen as an exotic meat, it's simple and piece of cake for most people to learn how to cook with it.

If you've ever used lean ground beefiness to cook hamburgers or grilled a beef steak, y'all can merely a easily learn how to cook yak meat.

Because of that, you don't really need yak-specific recipes that phone call for exact ingredients and cooking methods.

So in this section, I'll give you a few of my favorite "no recipe" recipes where you tin use yak meat instead of beef or bison.

Yak Burgers

Yak burgers should exist everybody'southward offset cease in trying this new meat. After a single bite of a well-made yak burger, most people are instant converts — proverb that yak makes the all-time burgers they've ever had, thanks to its soft and sweet flavor.

Dress up your yak burger all the same you want, as they're all delicious. Melt it over charcoal if you'd like a deeper flavor, or pan-fry it in a pat of yak butter to make for an absolutely authentic flavor.

Yak Steaks

Yak steaks aren't something you're likely to find at the supermarket, but they're worth seeking out. Considering yaks and cattle have a similar body structure, you tin often find the aforementioned cuts used for beef steaks as yak steaks.

Attempt a ribeye, T-bone, or porterhouse, and y'all'll notice how the yak's subtle sweet and tender juiciness make it an excellent alter from beef. Feel free to serve these with the classic accompaniments of mashed potatoes and a side salad.

Yak Curries

Yak curries are popular throughout the Himalayas, and there's no ane "right" manner to make one. Start by either cubing yak steak or browning ground yak meat, then ready it aside.

Using a footling oil combined with the drippings from the meat, sauté onions until they're translucent.

Add together in enough of table salt a well as roughly chopped root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, potatoes, and etc., let them sear for a few minutes in the pan, and so add vegetable stock to cover.

Return the yak meat to the mix, cover, and cook over medium heat until the vegetables are cooked through. Once the stock has cooked down (about 15 to 25 minutes), remove the pan from the heat and let cool for five minutes.

Add a nuance of heavy cream (preferably from yak milk!), mix thoroughly, and serve.

Yak Kabobs

Yak kabobs are a fantastic low-attempt, fast to make dish for whatever night of the calendar week. If y'all're using yak steak, cut it into 2-inch cubes and add it to skewers with chunks of onion, zucchini, and bong pepper.

If you're using ground yak meat, mix it with egg yolks and breadstuff crumbs in a bowl and then form it into assurance earlier adding it to the skewers.

Kabobs are all-time when cooked over a roaring charcoal or woods fire; castor the meat and vegetables with enough of olive oil, and sprinkle generously with common salt before throwing them on the grill.

If you don't accept a grill, try making them in the oven under your broiler; y'all'll lose a little scrap of the smoky flavour, simply however get a actually nice char on both sides if you plough them once while cooking.

Yak Tacos

Yak tacos make great use of any type of yak meat you lot might accept, be information technology footing or steak or even using the cutting-off trim afterward cooking a full-size steak.

Adding the classic Mexican spices of cumin, oregano, and chili powder to your yak meat volition give it a season that pairs well with the lime, cilantro, and diced onions, and crema pop in Mexico City street tacos.

Or serve these aslope a whole bar of taco condiments, so anybody can build their own versions with this new and interesting meat as the base.

Yak Stew

Yak stew or chili is a wintertime favorite, with hearty flavors and enough of nutrients to become you lot through the coldest months of the yr. First past sweating onions and garlic in oil, until translucent (calculation salt hither will assist to draw moisture out of the alliums).

Side by side, add together in your yak meat — either cubed yak steak or ground yak meat works fine here.

Melt until just browned on the outside, but not fully cooked through. Add a tin or two of drained beans, a tin can of diced tomatoes, and plenty of tomato juice, and you'll exist well on your way to a rich and delicious chili.

Spicing hither is totally upwards to the cook; I like using ancho chili pulverization, cumin, and a dash of allspice to add together a special touch.

Yak Bolognese

Yak Bolognese may be the most comforting dish of all. Merely substitute ground yak meat for the cutting of beefiness in your favorite spaghetti and cerise sauce recipe, and you lot'll have a wonderful anytime meal that's healthier and more delicious.

Where to Purchase Yak Meat

Considering of the long-running advocacy for yak meat as an alternative to beefiness, there are more yak ranches in the United States than you might imagine.

And while you might not exist able to find it at your local butcher'south shop, there are enough of options online that y'all tin use to have yak meat delivered right to your door.

Exotic Meat Market has a huge range of types of yak meat available, from ground meat to nearly a dozen types of steaks to sausage and stew meat.

Their prices tend to be a little bit high — at around $15 a pound for ground yak meat — but their quality is excellent and shipping is reliable.

Individual farms are often the best manner to go yak meat in larger quantities for a ameliorate price per pound.

Firebird Farms offers a 100% grass-fed yak meat starter pack that'due south cracking for beginners. Information technology includes ground yak chuck, ground yak sirloin, and a few premium yak steaks, as well equally their popular sweet ginger yak jerky.

Del Yaks has some of the all-time prices for yak meat, and so long as you tin can meet their minimum club of almost $100. Their basis yak burger meat comes in at just nether $10 a pound, making it a great deal that's comparably priced to grass fed beef or bison.

Lastly, Broken Spoke has excellent prices for all of their yak meats, including the about generous and reasonably priced sampler pack nosotros've found. They're a great first option for anyone looking to try yak for the first time.

FAQs About Yak Meat

Here are a few FAQs near Yak Meat.

Is yak meat better than beef?

Yak meat is a high-quality, red meat that is considered healthier than beefiness. Information technology is lower in fat and calories, merely higher in protein and iron. Yak meat too has a slightly sweet flavor that some people prefer over beef.

How much does yak meat cost?

Yak meat generally costs more than beef, pork or lamb, just it is still a relatively economical meat. The price of yak meat varies depending on the cuts that are available, but it is generally around $6 to $8 per pound.

What kind of meat is yak?

Yak is considered a cerise meat. Its flavor is relatively mild but not at all gamey. Information technology's high in protein, low in cholesterol and loftier in B12.

What is yak good for?

Yaks are best known for their milk and meat, which is said to be high in poly peptide and depression in fat. Yak meat is also a good source of zinc, iron and B vitamins. It is skilful for whatever dish that would go well with beef or bison – information technology stands up to hearty tastes and acidic contrasts.

How do you melt yak meat?

Yak meat can exist cooked in a variety of ways, only is most commonly roasted or grilled. It tin can also exist used in stews, curries, and other dishes.

Yak meat is a good for you and lean choice, providing an excellent source of protein, iron, and B vitamins. It has a slightly sweetness season that some people compare to beef or lamb. So if you're looking for an interesting new meat to try, why not give yak a go?

Are yak good eating?

Yes, yak meat is considered a delicacy in many parts of the world. Information technology is lean, flavorful, and healthy. Yak meat is a proficient source of protein, iron, and zinc.

Can humans eat yak cheese?

You can eat yak cheese. Most yak milk is not pasteurized, since in that location are so few industrial operations then it is illegal for yous to beverage it but condom to consume the cheese.

What'south the difference between a yak and a bison?

Yaks and bison are very different animals. A yak is a hairy cow-like animal from the Tibetan Plateau that ordinarily measures nearly v anxiety at the shoulder and can weigh every bit much as 800 pounds. A bison is a North American animal that about often stands from two meters to 3 meters high at the shoulders, and weighs between 400 kg (880 lb) to 900 kg (2,000 lb).

Does yak meat taste like beef?

The taste of Yak Meat is best described every bit unique, unlike beefiness or lamb. The meat itself is similar to beef in texture rather than lamb.

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Source: https://www.priceofmeat.com/1912/yak-meat/