Turtle Soup

[crockett]

For all you "turtle" people out there, is there various ways to make turtle soup of is it always hot and spicy. Someone told me a lot of restaurants just put in dark turkey meat and call it turtle.
Any other way to eat turtle?

 

[Juice Jaws]

I couldn't tell you what the turtle tasted like because the various hot sauces, ingredients, or what ever that was used to make the soup basically napalmed my mouth and digestive track.

My feelings are if they have to put that much hot sauce, etc, in the soup that should tell you what turtle meat tastes like.

 

[George]

Any other way to eat turtle?

Pan fried, deep fried, crockpot, baked, it is all good. Basically if you treat it like you would an old squirrel, parboil or simmer it, fry it and then bake it, etc. it will come out OK. I even have a recipe for General Tso Turtle, but haven't tried it.

There are both dark and light meat, the texture is a bit chewy but not tough, if handled correctly.

I've never had snapping turtle soup, but I've enjoyed it fixed a lot of other ways, all a long time ago.

Growing up in the country has advantages. :haha:

Spence

 

[tenngun]

By 1850 it was so popular that all sorts of mock Turtle soup recipes were found even in fine houses and restaurants

 

[George]

I have always understood that the turtle soup which was so popular was salt water turtle, sea turtle, maybe green turtle soup, not fresh water turtle. I can't recall ever seeing anything about snapping turtle soup...?

Spence

 

[George]

Doing a little research on this I see that both soft shell and snapper were used for turtle soup in USA, especially in the south. Sea turtles, too, but apparently a lot of fresh water turtles were used, even land turtles, terrapins, etc. I guess they ate to many of them, because today turtles of all sorts are severely diminished and many of them are on the protected list

Spence

 

[tenngun]

The great tortoise of the Galapagos were favored by whalers. The only turtle I ever ate was snapper.

 

[Ames]

Diamond back terrapins are popular, but I no longer live along the mid Atlantic coast. During crab season they would come up in the traps. Never ate one though.
My efforts will be with a snapper.

 

[nhmoose]

They are not endanger in NH or ME as far as I know 2 per day is catch and possession limit in NH.

Had to get that from F&G HQ as they are not in the regulations.

Be careful and ask them as in ME chipmunks are protected for some reason.

 

[Ames]

No regulations on our snappers, with the exception you cant possess one alive? :youcrazy:
Guess you have to kill it streamside.

 

[nhmoose]

Know the problem. 20 plus years ago Squirrels could not be hunted in my county. I got that changed with a court challenge the F&G dropped it ASAP. it seems the county F&G commissioner for 30 plus years liked to feed the varmints.

SE what we have to deal with in the live or Die state? NO actual public owned ranges at all after taking 90 plus years of our taxes meant for that and conservation.

Don't believe the TV show. They have control of what is seen.

 

[Ames]

I feel your pain. At least up here if you are 100 yards from your neighbors house you can just go out back and shoot. Still have game laws, but I can hone my skills right in the back 40. :grin:
How tight are the shooting laws out there?

 

[nhmoose]

On your own land, no problem if safe, meaning backstop. Woods are not a backstop as it should be.

I have a range in my yard and a sandpit in a 5 minute drive. We shoot From 22 and BP to NFA on both. But the average shooter does not own there own range. Because I have mine does not stop my complaints to the state.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Around here in early 20th century a lot of country fellows did what was called noodling. They got into the creek and felt along the bank underwater, around all the roots, rocks and such, and caught a lot of things with their bare hands, big catfish and buffalo, snapping turtles. I presume it was what Ames was describing when he said, "we free handed them from the creeks." I wonder if it is still being done, today.

Spence

In southern Indiana, near Friendship, there is a tradition of Sunday dinners at churches. Never a need to cook on Sunday. Food was great and reasonably priced. A staple at those dinners was turtle soup. Very delicious. Men caught the turtles by 'noodling'. I was invited to participate several times but declined because I am very attached to my fingers. :shocked2: But, that is the way it was done. BTW, there is also a mock turtle soup they occasionally served. Very good also.

 

[tenngun]

There are at least a dozen states where noodling is legal. It’s thought of as a southern thing but I know it was once legal in Wisconsin

 

[Ames]

I used to play a five string. I don't anymore. So I don't really have the need for all my fingers as much as I used to. :grin: