A look at Chitterlings aka Chitlins
Sep 03, 2006 by Admin | Filed in Spotlight on Food | 104 Comments
Chitlins are the small intestines of a pig that have been prepared as food. Chitlins are eaten most frequently in the Deep South of the United States, and are usually part of a larger meal that includes collard greens, fried chicken, and other traditional Southern soul foods.
Also, chitterlings are used for sausage casings.
In Salley, South Carolina they hold an annual gathering called the Chitlin’ Strut. The festivals is said to bring in about 70,000 people.
Chitlins are also prepared in many other cultrues. For example, in Mexican cuisine, small intestines are known as tripas. Cleaned, boiled, and grilled, tripas are a popular filling for tacos.
Food Safety:
Care must be taken when preparing chitterlings, due to the high possibility of disease being spread with chitterlings which have not been cleaned or cooked properly. These diseases/bacteria include Yersinia enterocolitica [Factoid: Yersinia enterocolitica is a cause of gastroenteritis, and is closely related to the causative agent of plague, Y. pestis; ] as well as Salmonella. Chitterlings must be soaked and rinsed thoroughly in several different cycles of cool water, and repeatedly picked clean by hand, removing extra fat and specks of faecal matter. The chitterlings are then boiled and simmered until tender.
If you have any experiences with chitlins, please share as a comment.
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104 Comments
Amanda
Sep 06, 2006
Deborah
Sep 06, 2006
Chitlins are the nastiest thing on this earth!!!! My family grew up eating them and they sucked as a child and they suck as an adult. take my advice DO NOT EAT FUNKY FOOD. Chitlins smell just like the funky farm they came from. so dont even think about it. You are better off eating a dirty diaper.
Brittany
Sep 06, 2006
Please do not try chitlins. Don’t subject your children to that mess. My family only ate them at Thanksgiving and Christmas like it was some kind of delicacy. No. I do not like dookie. I will not try them on a plate, I will not try them on a date. They Suuuuuuck. I have not ever eaten them but the smell alone is enough to make your eyes water.
Emily
Sep 16, 2006
I have to agree with the other comments: Chitling are disgusting. They just stink.
CHITLIN LOVER!!!
Oct 17, 2006
I will have to say that Chitlins are definitely an “acquired” taste… As an african-american raised in NC this was a normal part of our dietary fare (along with pig’s tongue, pig’s feet, birds, deer, etc), so I’m used to them. And though they do smell horrible especially during the cooking process they do taste great if you can just get past the smell. My husband who is also african-american and is from up north detests them and wild horses could not make him eat them… All I can say is don’t knock it until you try it…, who knows it may become your favorite dish…:)
konkrete_kahuna
Oct 21, 2006
Awww, ease up, everybody.Chitlins are GREAT.It ain’t no different than Spam. Nobody admits they eat Spam, but every grocery store you go into has a shelf full.Only bad thing about chitlins is that it takes ALOT of work to clean them.My wife refuses to cook tham for that reason.But, come December, when my Mother-in-law boils up a great big pot of them, Im on them like a fruit-fly on a pear!
lynn williams
Nov 12, 2006
Please help
I need to know how to season chitterlings or chitlins?
How long should i cook them for?
What goes best with chitterlings: ?
What ingredients should i cook with them to make them taste good?
Calvin D.
Nov 21, 2006
I usually cook my chitterlings at a low temperature for about 6 to 8 hours. To add a spicy flavor, I boil them with bacon, seasoning salt, pepper, and jalapenos. Your chitterlings will show an extreme sign of tenderness to let you know that they are ready for consumption. Great eating.
Sunshine
Nov 21, 2006
Come on people Chitlins are so good if there cooked right, I’m cleaning some as we speak preparing for Thanksgiving and I can’t wait don’t knock it until you try it….....
Tammy W.
Nov 22, 2006
I am making Chitlins for my Thanksgiving Dinner as well. I am also cooking Hog Maw (Pig stomach) to mix in with the Chitlins. My mom is from Alabama and she has the greatest recipe for Chitlins and Hog Maw. YUMMY!!!!!
I have tried this dish one time at a neighbors bbq. They smell so disgusting. I wanted to vomit. I did say that I would try a piece, so I did. It was kind of like the consistency of calamari (a little chewy) but it was freakin’ disgusting. Would never even consider eating again. Ever.