Researchers at the University of Missouri are suggesting the Asian carp, an invasive fish species, be included on the menu of the university's canteen.
Environment experts are concerned about the growing population of the Asian carp in the Mississippi basin. Policy makers are also urging the government to spend a lot of money to preserve the Great Lakes from the arrival of the Asian carp.
While the government is taking its own steps to control the growing population of Asian carp, Mark Morgan, an associate professor at the University of Missouri's School of Natural Resources, and the staff from the university's Campus Dining Services have recommended a delicious method to help control the fish species.
Morgan suggested that the best way to beat the Asian carp is to eat it. The university is also looking at options to put Asian carp dishes on the canteen menu. However, the researchers do not know if diners would prefer Asian carp dishes.
Three Asian carp dishes (Pasta Puttanesca, Italian Fish Stew, and Seafood, Bacon and Jalapeno Chowder) were thus tested at the university campus to see if the dishes would be widely accepted. Eric Cartwright, executive chef at the Campus Dining Services, created all the dishes and offered them to hungry students, faculty and staff members.
All the people who ate the Asian carp dishes were asked to rate the cooking. All three dishes were well accepted, but people preferred pasta and chowder to the stew. However, no one disliked the stew.
"It was more so-so for the stew, perhaps because everyone so liked the chowder," reported Tim Wall, who collected the data for Morgan.
Many tasters suggested that they were ready to pay $5 for the chowder. Some even said that the chowder might even fetch over $5 if served at a restaurant.
The researchers also said that the catfish is the most common fish eaten in the state of Missouri. However, the Asian carp could also serve as an alternative to catfish, based on the results of polls.
Morgan explained that Asian carp tastes similar to cod. Asian carp is also believed to be healthier since it contains lower mercury traces than tuna, but higher Omega 3 fatty acids than salmon. It also has fewer toxins than other fish species.
Asian carp is available for $1.99 per pound, which is cheaper than ground beef.
The researchers are still analyzing the taste test results of the three Asian carp dishes. They hope that the dishes will soon appear on the canteen menu.
