The Kuruvars have been consuming rabbit meat for decades. Studies in recent years have shown different benefits of consuming rabbit meat. Adivasi Awaaz creator Kavipriya, details the recipe and benefits of rabbit curry in the following article.
The Kuravar tribe, who inhabited the Kurunji mountains, were known to be hunters and gatherers. They hunted small animals for food. As such one can find the mention of animals and food, exclusive to the Kuravar tribe in the Kurunji literature.
The following is a verse from the Kurunji literature, which talks about varied food items consumed by the Kuravars and the animals hunted for food.
“(குகன்,சிலம்பன், கொடிச்சியே, குறவர்குறத் தியர்தேன்,
குறிச்சி,சுனை, அருவி,களி புலி,கரடி, யானை,
சிகண்டி,முயல், மான்,பன்றி, உடும்புவரை,யாடு
சிங் க(ம்),மா சுணம்கவரி, நாவிலிஞ்சி, மஞ்சள்
மிகுங்கடம்பு, அசோகு,புன்னை, தேக்கு,ஏனல், காந்தள்,
வேங்கை,கோங்கு, அகில்,ஏலா தோரை,சந்தங், கறி,வேய்,
சுகந்தமாத, விவெறிகொள், துடி,குறிஞ்சி யாழ்,பண்
சுனையருவி யாடல்,தினை காத்தல்குறிஞ் சியினே.)”
It includes food items like honey, millet, pepper, bamboo, turmeric, ginger, etc., and animals such as deer, rabbit, pig, bear, etc. Rabbits were one of the most hunted animals. They were prepared as curry using onion, tomatoes, ginger and other spices. Described below is the method of preparing rabbit curry, which has changed over time, and the benefits of consuming it.
Method of Cooking Rabbit Curry:
Required ingredients:
Onion - 1
Tomatoes – 1
Ginger garlic paste
Anise powder
Dry chilli powder -½ tsp
Chicken Masala - 1 tsp
Curry masala - 1 tsp
Cloves - 5
Bark - 3
Curry leaves, Coriander
Oil and salt as required
Recipe:
Take rabbit in a cooker and add salt and turmeric. After three whistles, take off the cooker from the stove.
Heat oil in a pan and sauté with bark, cloves, and anise powder.
Fry onions. Once the onions are fried, add tomatoes, chillies and ginger garlic. Fry well for 3 minutes.
Then add ½ teaspoon of dry chili powder, 1 teaspoon of curry masala, 1 teaspoon of chicken masala, 40 grams of broth chilli powder, a little turmeric powder, and salt as needed. sauté until you get gravy.
Now add the masala to the earlier prepared rabbit and cook for 15 minutes.
Delicious rabbit curry is ready to be consumed.
Benefits of Eating Rabbit Curry:
Low in Cholesterol
Rabbit curry is very low in cholesterol as compared to other meats.
High in Protein
Rabbit curry has high protein content, and these are easily digestible proteins.
Calcium and Phosphorus
Rabbit meat is rich in calcium and phosphorus when compared to other meats.
Balanced metabolism
It is claimed that rabbit meat balances metabolism. It also prevents the accumulation of fat in the body.
Apart from these, it is super low in sodium content and hence can be consumed by people with high blood pressure. It contains essential minerals, is rich in Omega 3 Fatty acids and Vitamin B12 (Health Benefits of Rabbit Meat for Excellent Protein Source but Low in Calories - DrHealthBenefits.com). Depicted below are the nutrients and their amount/ percentage found in rabbit meat.
Table1:
Nutrients Amount per 100 grams
Calories 173mg
Total fat 3.5g
Cholesterol 123mg
Table 2:
Nutrients Percentage per 100 grams
Protein 66%
Potassium 9%
Sodium 1%
Iron 27%
Vitamine B6 15%
Magnesium 7%
Tables 1 and 2 are based on the data available at (Health Benefits of Rabbit Meat for Excellent Protein Source but Low in Calories - DrHealthBenefits.com)
Although rabbit meat has been an ancestral food item of the Kuravars, it is consumed even today. Different parts of the globe consume rabbit meat. Many studies show that rabbit meat is a much healthier alternative when it comes to consuming non-vegetarian food items.
This article is created as a part of the Adivasi Awaaz project, with the support of Misereor and Prayog Samaj Sevi Sanstha.