Goat meat is known for its distinctive smell, which might make some people averse to dishes made from it.
According to the book “Special Goat Cuisine” written by Apri Buleng and the Demedia Kitchen Team (2016), goat meat indeed has an unpleasant odor commonly referred to as “prengus.”
However, not all goat meat has a strong prengus smell. Several factors affect the aroma of goat meat, including the age of the goat, the fat, and the blood.
The older the goat, the stronger the smell of the meat. That’s why meat from goats slaughtered at less than 5 months old has a less intense prengus odor.
Despite this, there are cooking techniques that can reduce the prengus smell in goat meat. Here are four tips you can try to ensure your Idul Adha goat dishes don’t have a prengus odor.
Tips Aromatic Goat Meat Dishes Without the Unwanted Prengus Odor
1. Remove Goat Fat
Goat fat significantly influences the smell of cooked goat meat. To reduce the odor, slice off and remove the fat from the meat.
Removing goat fat is easier if the meat has been previously frozen. This makes the fat firmer and easier to trim off.
2. Rub the Meat with Salt
Blood clinging to the meat also affects its aroma when cooked. Therefore, before cooking, knead the meat with salt.
Another method is to coat the goat meat with a solution of water, salt, and cooking vinegar. After letting it sit, the goat meat can be processed further.
3. Boil the Meat
Boiling the meat is another method to eliminate the prengus odor. Boil the meat with tamarind or cooking vinegar before further processing.
4. Use Chili or Pepper
Goat meat can be prepared into spicy dishes to mask the prengus odor. Using a generous amount of pepper or chili can provide a spicy flavor that distracts from the meat’s aroma.
By following these tips, you can enjoy flavorful and pleasantly aromatic goat meat dishes without the unwanted prengus odor.
