Goat brain is very popular in many countries around the world as food. It is very nutritious and you can try it if you haven’t yet.
Brain of a goat is the most important organ inside a goat’s head. Brain helps to keep the goat active and decide what to do next.
Actually, a brain is an organ that serves as the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals.
Goat brain is located in the head, usually close to the sensory organs for senses such as vision. It is the most complex organ in a vertebrate’s body.
Brain As Food
The brain can serve as nourishment, like most other internal organs. Different types of brains are considered a delicacy, in many cultures throughout the world.
Brains used for nourishment include those of pigs, squirrels, rabbits, horses, cattle, monkeys, chickens, camels, fish, lamb, and goats.[1]
Nutritional Composition of Brain
DHA is found concentrated in mammalian brains, which is an important omega-3 fatty acid. The makeup of the brain is about 12% lipids, most of which are located in myelin (which itself is 70–80% fat).
Specific fatty acid ratios will depend in part on the diet of the animal it is harvested from. The brain is also very high in cholesterol.
Is Goat Brain Healthy?
All types of organ meat of goat, including the brain are safe to eat. Actually, goat brains are also very nutritious.
Many dishes are made using goat brain. For example, bheja masala and bheja fry are well-known delicacies in India.
But many people have an aversion towards organ meat, especially the brain. Because it has a different texture and metallic taste.
Some people think goat brain is unsafe to consume, because some organs also filter toxins. But as the brain is not a filtering organ, that should not be a cause for concern.
Actually, eating brain is no different than eating the flesh of the animal.
A goat’s brain is full of essential nutrients such as iron and protein, but low in carbohydrates.
The brain has a slight metallic taste, as it is rich in dietary minerals. If the taste bothers you, you can always mask it by using strong spices and flavorful ingredients.
But there is a major disadvantage of adding goat brain in your diet, and that is high cholesterol. Goat’s brain is very high in cholesterol and has very high saturated fat content.
So, it’s very important that you eat goat brain in moderation and in small quantities. And avoid this food altogether if you have underlying health conditions such as high BP or cholesterol.
Goat Brain Cultural Consumption
Goat brain curry or fry is a delicacy in South India. Even in Mumbai, the local indigenous East Indian community has their own version of brain masala curry.
Some Questions & Answers About Goat Brain
Here are some question and answers about goat brain. Hope these will help you.
Q: Is goat brain safe to eat?
A: All types of goat’s organ meat, including brain are safe to eat. In fact, they are also very nutritious.
Q: How big is a goat brain?
A: A goat with a total body weight of 27.66 kg has a brain of 115 grams weight.
Q: What is the benefit of eating goat brain?
A: Brain meat contains omega 3 fatty acids and nutrients. The latter include phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine, which are good for the nervous system. The antioxidants obtained by eating brain meat are also helpful in protecting the human brain and spinal cord from damage.
Q: Does eating goat brain increase cholesterol?
A: Yes, it is very high in cholesterol and has high saturated fat content.
Q: How do you clean lamb brain before cooking?
A: Preparing brains is actually quite simple: rinse, soak, peel off any cloudy membrane layer, optionally poach, and cook. Gently rinse brains in cold water to remove any bone fragments from opening the skull.
Q: Where to buy goat brain?
A: You can easily buy goat brain from any of your nearest meat shop.
Q: What is the price for goat brain?
A: It’s not possible to tell the exact price. Because, it can vary from place to place.
