Eskimos are indigenous people living in the icy regions from Eastern Siberia (Russia), through Alaska (USA), Canada and Greenland. The cold weather and low temperatures in Alaska have created many unique dishes, including Akutaq ice cream. In the native language of this region, Akutaq means “put it together”. Akutaq ice cream is a combination of animal fat and snow, to create a nutritious dish for Eskimos to bring when hunting.
The ingredients of ice cream usually include animal fat such as reindeer, seals, fish on the ice, ... mixed with newly fallen snow and juicy fruits. Each Eskimo family will have their own ice cream recipe and that is their pride. In particular, animal fat is the special feature of this "unique" ice cream.
Although the ingredients may sound unappealing, this is a traditional dish of the Eskimos because it provides a lot of energy, helping them fight the cold weather.
Akutaq is made from animal fat, freshly fallen snow and berries.
After the first hunting season of the year, when they have the animal fat, the Eskimo women will start making ice cream. Animal fat and snow are put into a large bowl, using their hands to rotate and mix the mixture continuously until the fat is soft and melted, they will add fruits, sugar, olive oil and continue mixing until the ice cream becomes smooth. Because of the effort involved in each production, the Eskimo often make a large quantity to store and use gradually.
This special ice cream provides healthy omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins C, D and iron that help keep the Eskimos healthy through the harsh cold that is typical of this region.
Akutaq ice cream is a traditional dish that always appears on big and special occasions. Akutaq ice cream can be served as a dessert with the main meal or spread on bread for a snack.
A traditional Eskimo wooden bowl for mixing ice cream
The indigenous people love to serve Akutaq ice cream to newcomers to Alaska as a way to share their culture. The ice cream has a natural rich taste, thanks to the fresh, juicy fruit, so the ice cream does not have the strong greasy taste that one might expect. Most people who try it have a good impression of this traditional Alaskan Eskimo dish.
Nowadays, this ice cream is sold a lot on the streets by mobile ice cream carts.
Nowadays, to make ice cream more popular and familiar to more people, instead of using animal fat, people started using shortening - a solid fat produced from vegetable oils such as soybeans, cottonseed oil, sugar and raisins to make ice cream. Although the flavor is not as original as the original, it is still a dish worth trying.
