Beef tripe is the main ingredient of the Mexican dish "menudo," said to cure hangovers.
"Tripe" is the name given to the stomach of any animal whose diet consists mostly of plants. Beef tripe usually consists of the first three parts of the cow's stomach, while unwashed or "green" tripe also contains the remainder of the stomach's contents. Tripe is characterized by a strong smell which varies depending on its the type. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Identification
While beef tripe is considered a delicacy in many cultures and is often eaten in stews and curries, canned beef tripe is sold primarily as dog food. This type of tripe is raw, as opposed to the dried varieties sold for dogs to chew on, and usually has a fairly pungent smell.
Benefits
"Green" beef tripe is considered a healthy food for dogs, as it contains digestive enzymes and the juices the cow used when digesting grass. When dogs consume these enzymes they help to prevent bloating and diarrhea and to increase appetite. Because this type of tripe contains some of the last contents of the cow's stomach, its smell is very unpleasant.
Misconceptions
Though the smell of tripe can be likened to the stench of fish, rotting food or cow dung, this doesn't mean that the tripe itself is rotten --- in fact, quite the opposite. The smell can vary greatly, and is affected by how the grass may differ from season to season due to weather changes, or due to the field in which it's grown. The cow's diet is key; tripe that comes from animals with stomachs that retain more moisture tend to smell stronger.
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