Many people can appreciate a well-cooked omelette for weekend brunch, but when is the last time you considered the kind of eggs you use in that omelette? The eggs from these 10 animals are quite unusual – and they’re 100% edible. Interested in Eggs Benedict à la shark? Check it out for yourself below.
Number Ten: Seagull. Did you know people are actually paid to collect seagull eggs? In England, licensed collectors gather gull eggs in the spring from wetlands and marshes that are home to Black-Headed gulls. The eggs of Black-Headed gulls are allegedly rich and delicious.
Number Nine: Ostrich. Pictured on the right, ostrich eggs are the largest in the world. They weigh an average of 20 times the weight of a chicken egg, and they take about 90 minutes to boil.
Number Eight: Balut. This would have made it higher on our list if it weren’t for the fact that this is shocking for the way that it’s cooked, rather than the animal it comes from. A balut is a duck embryo that is partially developed and eaten within the shell. It is commonly boiled and served with a spicy mixture inside the egg.
Number Seven: Crocodile. Female crocodiles are known for laying hundreds upon hundreds of eggs, so it’s no surprise they found their way onto this list. Some crocodile farms in Asia even host crocodile egg-eating contests; however, they are apparently not very tasty.
Number Six: Snail Caviar. Yes, you read that right – snail caviar. Adventurous eaters and caviar connoisseurs alike are latching on to this new concept from our slimy friends.
Number Five: Frog. Though unappealing and strange to look at, a traditional Indonesian dish called Pepes Telur Kodok incorporates frog eggs, larynxes and vocal sacs inside a banana leaf to be grilled. This one’s for only the most adventurous of eaters.
Number Four: Ant. Resembling cream-colored jelly beans, ant eggs can be eaten raw or cooked. They apparently have a flavor profile that is slightly sour, acidic, and juicy.
Number Three: Octopus. Grilled octopus is a common dish all around the world, but what about octopus eggs? Octopus eggs are quite rare, on account of the fact that octopus mothers would rather starve to death than leave their eggs alone. If you do decide to eat them, be prepared for the hefty price tag.
Number Two: Turtle. Nope, this isn’t the aftermath of an intense beer pong tournament – those are turtle eggs. Soft-shelled turtle eggs are commonly eaten to encourage virility in males. However, due to the dying species of turtles everywhere, it has become significantly less common to eat these eggs.
Number One: Shark. Finally, perhaps the strangest edible egg on this list is the shark egg. When unfertilized, shark eggs are in fact edible. The catch is that you can only find these eggs inside a female shark – you will never find them floating freely in the ocean. Eat at your own risk.
