Prairie oysters. Often called "rocky mountain oysters" or "mountain oysters" in the USA or out West. You've probably heard about the dish if you live in Canada. Maybe you've seen it referenced on TV or maybe you've heard some bizarre rumours about what it actually is.
As you might have discerned, oysters are generally found in the sea (or at the very least, in salt water) and there are notably few large bodies of water in the prairies. There are, however, no shortage of bulls and other cattle.
So are prairie oysters... you know?
Yes. In case you've heard the rumours or jokes about the dish, prairie oysters are indeed bull testicles.
On paper, this might sound revolving. Indeed, for a lot of people these days, the food is little more than a novelty item. It's appeared on bucket lists of things to do in Canada and often tops the lists of strange foods with names nothing like what they are. However, the dish is hardly novel and has a somewhat more longstanding tradition around it.
The origin of the dish is tied to Canada's cattle traditions, particularly in Alberta. As long as there have been ranchers and cattle drives, bulls among the herd have been gelded to prevent excessive reproduction. The process is also a safety precaution as castrated bulls are generally calmer and less aggressive towards ranch hands.
From there, the more industrious (and perhaps, daring) chefs have found ways to prevent these parts from going to waste. Currently, in Alberta, there is an annual festival dedicated to the dish during the yearly Calgary Stampede, where connoisseurs can try a whole variety of the dishes served in sometimes creative ways. There are traditional platters of deep-fried prairie oysters, as well as plates where they are sauteed with wine and shallots.
In terms of flavour, most people agree that the dish has a gamey taste and due to the often-deep-fried exterior makes it similar to breaded venison. However, others have claimed that its much closer to the deep-fried calamari you often find in pubs or family fare Greek restaurants. For those who disliked the dish, they've described it as something closer to deep-fried rubber (which we can only assume meant it was somewhat overdone in the fryer).
Ultimately, the dish, while shocking at first, isn't completely out there once you remember that this is just another organ being prepared to avoid wastage. While there might not be as many advocates for it as other dishes, it is possible to find ways of enjoying it.
Oh, and what about the drink with the same name?
Depending on where you are, the term prairie oyster might refer to other things. For instance, in some parts of the world, notably England, a prairie oyster refers to a type of supposed hangover cure that involves a raw egg topped with Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco and salt (meant to be down in a single shot). In this case, it's called oyster due to the texture of the raw egg yolk going down.
