You may have never seen a Silkie chicken; if you did, you would agree that they are undoubtedly different-looking chickens. Silkie, Tai-he, Ukokkei, or Black Meat Chickens, are very popular in the Asian Markets, specifically in China and Japan. In addition, Silkies are mostly cute pets in America, groom contestants in poultry shows or backyard chickens pecking up insects the whole day.
Not only can you eat Silky chicken all day long, but it also tastes similar, yet better than the traditional Supermarket chickens. They are grown on a small free-range scale in the U.S.; therefore, they also have higher values in nutrients and less fat content and are common in soups or broths.
If you think Silkie chickens have an unusual look, you will be flabbergasted when you see their dark, almost black meat and bone structures.
![Do Silkie Chickens Taste Good? [Can They Be Eaten] (1)](https://i0.wp.com/henraising.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/do-silkie-chickens-taste-good.jpg "Do Silkie Chickens Taste Good? [Can They Be Eaten] (1)")
Dishing up some tasty Silkie chicken for the uninformed will have them staring wide-eyed at the meat portion on their dinner plate. So, does Silkie chicken taste good, and is it even possible to eat black chicken meat?
Can You Eat Silkie Chicken?
Before we delve into the taste of Silkie chicken, it may be wise to determine if they are edible.There is a short answer to this question. Yes, you can eat Silkie chickens every day.
However, you could pay a bit more than for the traditional chicken meat as they are rare and grown only on a small scale in the U.S. You may not find them at your local grocer, but many Asian shops would stock them.
Is Silkie Chicken Meat Good For You?
In addition, Silkies are poor egg layers compared to regular chickens, but their creamy-white-colored eggs, although slightly smaller than usual, are also very safe to eat.
Moreover, the Chinese believe the black Silkie chicken broth helps to strengthen the immune system.Especially for women in treating gynecological diseases. It is rich in carnosine, an antioxidant that strengthens the immunity.
Also, meat is protein, an essential primary nutrient in the human body. The WHO suggests a daily protein intake of 0.03 oz per pound of body weight. Silkies are standard chickens, rich in protein, and are an invaluable source of protein – 3.5oz of chicken contains about one oz. of protein.
Apart from being challenging to find, we don’t see Americans having frequent Silky chicken barbeques or Sunday lunches because it is difficult to see when they are done or burnt.
So, use a meat thermometer to test instead of the typical visual appearance or the juice color. Your Silkie bird should be ready with an internal temperature of about 160F.
That is probably why Black Chicken is more common in brew tonic soups and broths.
In addition, it provides higher levels of iron, nutrients, antioxidants, protein, and Vitamin B, with a lower fat content compared to regular Supermarket commercial chicken. The main reason is that the breeding of Silky chickens is more of a typical free-range method.
Although not so much in the U.S., you will find Silky Chicken in many Chinese, Asian, and Indian recipes – for example, Slow cooked black-skinned chicken in a coconut sauce, Silkie chicken soup with rice wine, and Black chicken biryani. They usually are not roasted; instead, they are braised slowly or served in soups, curries, and stews. However, when serving Silkie chicken on the bone makes an extraordinary presentation.
Nutritional Information
Chicken meat in itself is a good option for health-conscious individuals. However, Silkie meat has more nutritional benefits than regular chicken you may purchase in your supermarket.
One hundred grams of silkie meat contains 21.4 grams of protein, 0.8 grams of saturated fat, and 2.6 grams of fat. In contrast, 100 grams of regular chicken meat contains about the same amount of protein but has more saturated fat, around 3.6 grams.
The store-bought chicken will not be as healthy as a chicken raised in your backyard.
Chickens that are cage-free and able to roam around will have less fat because they use more energy. In addition, commercial chickens are given growth hormones, so they reach their slaughter weight quicker and are more prominent overall.
Of course, the nutritional information will vary depending on how you cook your chicken. For instance, frying adds fat and calories that were not there before.
Like What Does Silkie Chicken Taste?
Silkie chicken tastes like any other chicken. Again, that is the short answer. You will probably not know the difference when you eat Silky chicken while blindfolded.
However, for the experienced food critic, or if your taste butts are more sensitive than average, you may detect a slight difference. People say it is more robust than typical chicken taste, with a subtle duck or gamey flavor.
What Does Silkie Meat Look Like?
In addition, there is an old saying – you eat with your eyes, and it may very well be true in this case.The meat and bones of the Silkie chicken are dark, grey-blue, or black;therefore, your brain tells you there must be a difference in taste compared to the traditional white or yellowish color chicken. Scientifically and by nature, Silkies are just chicken, that’s it.
However, one possible reason is Silkie chickens taste different or even better than regular chickens. The same reason would apply to taste variants between free-range and commercial chickens.
There are considerable differences in feeding ingredients and additives that plays a role in chicken growth and will relate to the taste.
Therefore, in the U.S., Silkie chickens are not large-scale broiler birds but are mostly raised traditionally on smaller poultry farms providing that typical purer and gamier flavor.
Is Silkie Chicken Meat Healthier Than Other Chickens?
Also, they have less fat, which is healthier, less greasy, and tastier.The dark meat has a leaner and gamier taste than regular chicken meat.
So, if you want chicken like Grandma used to make in the good old days, the Silkie chicken may be a good option.
Their appearance is unusual, but the taste can be a worthy addition to any home-cooked recipe. Typically, you can pair Silkie chicken meat with ginger, vegetables, orange, star anise, and mushrooms for similar unusual flavors. Lastly, young Silkies between six months to a year are best as the older chickens may tend to be tough.
What Is Silkie A Chicken?
So, now that we know what Silkie chickens taste like, it is maybe a good idea to briefly look at what Silkie Chickens are. But, first, it would be nice to understand what you eat, regardless of the taste.
The Silkie, or Chinese silk chicken, comes from the fluffy and cottony plumage, which feels almost like silk. The black color of their meat and skeleton is only pigment in the tissue, skin, and bones.
In addition, in China, Silkies are Wu-Gu-Ji, or Black Boned Chicken, because of their bluish-black skin and bones and dark gray-black meat. In Europe and the U.S. cuisines, the Silkie chickens are generally rare in contrast to the Asian market, where they are a gourmet delicatessen. More so in the Chinese market, where they have a high value as a food source and medicine.
Watch this video to see whatSilkie chickenslook like, as they are pretty adorable.
Final Word
Silkies are passive birds that are popular as pets or backyard chickens. They look different from regular chickens with their fluffy plumage and dark, almost black skin, bones, and meat.
In the U.S., they are less common compared to the Asian market, where they are a delicacy and ingredient in many recipes. Also, their soups are medicine to enhance immunity.
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