Would You Dare To Try This Chutney Made of Red Ants And Their Eggs?

India's love for food needs no introduction and neither does the diverse variety of unconventional dishes that people enjoy in different states, tribes and communities. One such tribal dish from a region called Bastar in Chhattisgarh will totally surprise and if you're not an adventurous foodie it might leave you squirming in your seat. You may or may not have known this, but we were surprised to discover a rather unusual chutney called Chaprah which is made of red ants and their eggs and is a local delicacy in Bastar.

You may not have heard of is 'Chaprah' a pungent chutney that is made of red ants and their eggs! The pungent chutney is made of ants that bite and sting. They are collected in large numbers to be grinded into a hot and spicy chutney. The chutney forms an indispensable part of all their grand feasts and is relished whole-heartedly by the tribe members.

 

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Be it the sour and tangy pudina chutney or the hot red chilly and garlic chutney, or the sweet mango chutney, you thought you have had them all? Think again. The red ant chutney is an explosion of hot and sharp flavours and also a storehouse of many medicinal properties. The villagers wander about the forest and collect these ants and their egg from their nests. The ants are then further crushed and dried. Later, they are put in a pestle and mortar and grinded. Then tomatoes, coriander, garlic, ginger, chilli, salt and a bit of sugar is added to get an orange coloured, smooth and paste-like chutney known as Chaprah.

Apart from adding a fiery flavours to your meal, this chutney boasts of many medicinal qualities. These ants and their eggs contain formic acid, which has many anti-bacterial properties that can help combat bacterial infections in our digestive system. The formic acid in the ants gives the chutney its characteristic hot and spicy flavour. The chutney is also known to have decent amount of protein, calcium and zinc which is good for the immune system.

Deep into the wild jungles of Bastar in Chhattisgarh, these sharp red ants are found in abundance. Since many years, local tribe has been using these ants as part of their daily diet. The name of the dish 'Chaprah' literally translates means 'a leaf basket' and refers to the nests that these ants make with the leaves of the sal tree and where they reside.

The chutney is quite popular across many tribal villages of Chhattisgarh. It is also sold in tiny packets made of the sal leaves. From unconventional and exotic to simply bizarre and unimaginable, India is truly a treasure trove of delicacies. Would you dare to taste this unique chutney?