Eating Insects Can Save the World

Cooking In Mexican From A to Z - A podcast by Heritage Radio Network

On this episode Zarela and Aarón are back for a second round of bugs! This time they are chatting with Carlos Leal, the creator of several culinary companies in Mexico that include: Compañía de Sales, Mortar and Sons, Loyal & Febre Destilados de Agave and Dodo el Vino. His interest in culinary experimentation led him to enroll in Masterchef Mexico 2018, where he made it to the semi-finals of the show. Both of Carlos' parents are biologists, so his interest in insects was instilled at an early age. Throughout this episode, Carlos focuses on the wide array of flavors that insects contribute as ingredients. Along the way they discuss many species, including Chapulines (Cricket), the Maguey "Worm" (really a larvae), Escamoles (also known as "insect caviar"), and many more. They put eating insects in a global context, and wonder if eating insects could go from taboo to popular in the same way that sushi did in the west. Plus, Zarela shares memories of eating acorn worms on the ranch, and you are already eating bugs without knowing it. For more recipes from Zarela and Aarón, visit zarela.com and chefaaronsanchez.com