9 Food Dishes That Are Absolute Symbols of Alaska

I believe Alaska is an underrated place to visit. It is definitely on my bucket list of places to visit very soon, so I had fun writing this article knowing what foods I can try here! Alaska is the perfect place to visit if you are a big seafood lover. I mean, have you seen the huge crabs that live there? The seafood is freshly caught here, and they have food that you wouldn’t have thought ever to try. I am a big foodie and love trying different dishes, so it is interesting to see the many foods native to Alaska. Let us dive into nine dishes and foods representing Alaska. I hope you’re ready to add some new foods to your palate!

Reindeer Dog

The Reindeer Dog is for sure an interesting name for a food dish, but after learning what it is combined with, it makes sense. This dish is a variety of meat mixed together, such as caribou, pork, and beef. This hotdog is topped with Coca-Cola-glazed onions, mustard, and cream cheese. It is, for sure, a colorful dish! If I get the opportunity to visit Alaska, I just may put this on my bucket list of foods to eat!

Muktuk

Muktuk is basically whale meat cut into cubes. It consists of the skin and fat of a bowhead, narwhal, or beluga whale. This dish is eaten raw in tiny cubes, deep-fried, pickled, or stewed. This dish is similar to sushi if eaten raw. The skin is apparently tender or chewy and has a variety of “tastes,” according to many people who have tried this dish. I am unsure if this would be a dish I would try, but I would love to see this interesting dish prepared!

Yak Meat

Yak meat is the healthiest red meat you can eat. In Alaska, folks here sure know how to make this meat into some fantastic dishes. There are Yak burgers, nachos, and Yak-a-dillas (quesadillas). I’m not sure about you, but a Yak burger sounds delicious!

Akutaq

Akutaq is basically Eskimo icecream and is pronounced “A-goo-duk.” This isn’t your typical icecream that you or me is use to. This icecream is made from reindeer fat or tallow, sea oil, fresh snow, berreis, and ground fish. Crazy right! This interesting dish was made by the Natives as a special traveling food for hunters. This dish is made as a celebration for a young boys first hunt or for potlucks. When visiting Alaska, keep an open mind if you are willing to try this dish because it is a native food for this place. I wish I had a picture to show off, but honestly it looks like regular icecream to me and I would love to try it.

Salmon

Although salmon is a dish served almost everywhere, Alaska is the place to eat some freshly captured fish. Here salmon is abundant enough that it can be turned into any meal! Salmon here is baked, broiled, grilled, or smoked. There is also a fresh salmon spread made here that is said to be similar to tuna salad but with a smokier tasted. There a a dozen plus recipes of salmon including sushi!

Halibut

Halibut is a marine fish living in the Alaska water that can exceed over four hundred pounds! No wonder this is a beloved dish, with four hundred pounds of meat, the whole town can eat for days! This particulr food is made into a filet steak. Halibut cheeks are said to be similar to scallops. This dish is also boiled, deep-fried, or grilled here. Im sure there are a few other dishes and flavors made out of halibut!

Crab

We all know that Alaska is known for their humungous crabs! If you haven’t heard, hop on a plane right now and dig into some crab meat! Several dishes are made from crab meat such as crab cakes or chowder. The Red King Crab is sweet and juicy!

Fry Bread

Fry Bread is native to many other places as well, but here in Alaska, it has been adopted as symbolizing food. This type of bread is a flat dough and is deep fried. The outside is crisp, while the inside is soft and fluffy. This dish can be created from the comfort of your home. You will need yeast, dry milk, flour, salt and sugar. If you are feeling a bit spunky, you can top it off with chili, salmon, or sugar. This meal sounds like something nice and warm to eat during a cold day, especially in Alaska! Hunters made this dish when crops were destroyed. They rationed flour, sugar, and fat and mixed them together, and thus fry bread was born!

Wild Berries

Wild berries may sound like something other than an exceptional food, but it is a big deal in Alaska. Since Alaska has extended daylight hours and a “midnight sun,” this allows an abundance of photosynthesis to occur. The wild berries here differ from any berries you have tried before; just be careful if you pick them in the wild to avoid eating the wrong berries! Aside from wild berries, other crops and plants thrive well here because of the sunlight. Make sure to try a famous Berry cobbler here!

Conclusion

When trying different foods, always try to keep an open mind. Some foods have a back story or history of how they were discovered. Some of these foods helped natives and people from long ago survive during trying times of life. I love learning about different dishes in other countries or states; it is mind-blowing! Now that we know what foods to put on our bucket list let’s hop on a plane to Alaska and dive into some good eating!