general description
Capercaillie is a fairly large bird belonging to the
pheasant family , the order of chickens. The bird owes its name to the peculiarities of the
current male, which during the mating season loses its vigilance and
sensitivity.
Males reach a height of 110 cm and more, and their weight varies
from 4 to 6.5 kg, females weigh a third less, on average about 2 kg.
The male has a multi-colored color: the neck and head are blackish, the
back of the neck is predominantly ash-gray with black spots,
and in front is black with gray spots. The goiter is black-green with a metallic
sheen, the underside is in black and white spots. The wings are brown
and the tail is black with white spots. The female is colored more
variegated – a mixture of rusty-yellow-red-brown and white flowers.
Earlier, the habitat of capercaillie spread over all the vast
forests of Asia, Europe, Siberia, in the region of Western Transbaikalia, Vilyuisk
and Olekminsk. 18-20 centuries. the number of wood grouses decreased, and in some
places it simply disappeared.
Nowadays, wood grouse is most found in Sweden and., But can also be
found in Greece, the Carpathians, the Alps, Spain, and Germany.
Capercaillie feathers are used to make various decorations,
and meat is used in cooking.
The wood grouse’s meat is rather dark, tasty and juicy, although it has
some peculiarity – a slightly bitter coniferous aftertaste. In
order to get rid of the unusual bitter taste, wood grouse is
pickled immediately before use, or vinegar is added
during cooking. The meat acquires a richer flavor when it is hung unpicked
and ungutted by the head and kept in a cold place for
about 2-3 days.
There is practically no capercaillie meat on sale now, so the
easiest way is to negotiate with a hunter about shooting to order.
Caloric content of wood grouse
Capercaillie is considered a nutritious and high-calorie dish. 100 g of such
meat contains 255 kcal, it also has a high content of
proteins and fats, so it must be consumed in moderation
so as not to gain extra pounds.
Nutritional value per 100 grams:
Proteins, g Fats, g Carbohydrates, g Ash, g Water, g Caloric value, kcal 18 19 0,6 0,9 64 255
Useful properties of wood grouse meat
Composition and presence of nutrients
Capercaillie meat contains a huge amount of micro and macronutrients
such as potassium,
calcium,
sodium,
magnesium,
iron,
chlorine,
chromium, phosphorus,
cobalt, fluorine, molybdenum, tin, nickel, sulfur.
Also, meat is saturated with the following vitamins: groups B, PP,
A,
E,
N.
Useful and healing properties
It is useful to eat wood grouse meat to regulate glucose levels, improve
oxygen transport to cells, protein synthesis, and also for the
spinal cord and brain, digestive and nervous systems,
skin condition , and the general condition of the body.
This kind of game goes well with apples,
mushrooms, carrots, fried with onions, fried potatoes,
pickles and, of course, wild berries.
The easiest way to cook is fried capercaillie. It is
wrapped in thin pieces of lard, or stuffed with it. After
that, fry for about two hours until the thick needle
is free to enter the meat. The capercaillie stuffed with
veal liver and the capercaillie stewed in lingonberries are also very tasty .
You can also cook cutlets, steaks, meat rolls
with nuts and kulebyaki from its meat .
Dangerous properties of wood grouse meat
As such, there were no contraindications in the use of wood grouse in food
, the manifestation of individual intolerance is possible.
How the wood grouse walks in the Perm zoo. This mesmerizing and unusual
sound is rarely heard in the wild in our time.
