When you think of the most iconic foods in South Dakota, which comes to mind? Chislic, right? While these skewered pieces of salted meat may sound a little strange at first (especially to newbies), your tastebuds will quickly be converted, and you'll soon come to crave these mouthwatering cubes of deliciousness. All of that being said, when we heard that chislic is being called the most disgusting food in SoDak, we didn't take too kindly to it, and here is why:
A 2017 article by Thrillist once listed the "Grossest Food in Every State." To everyone's surprise - or perhaps nobody's - chislic was rated as SoDak's most questionable food, thanks mostly to its name and appearance.
Pshh.
As per the article, "It may sound like an off-brand Chicklet, or some sort of prairie disease, but chislic is, in fact, dice-sized meat cubes (lamb, beef, wild game) seasoned and thrown into a deep fryer, then served to be eaten with toothpicks," later adding how "the sight of shriveled-up cubed meat in a basket might make you feel like you have a strong case of the chislics."
Okay, so. What's the issue? Gosh.
Declared SoDak's "Official State Nosh" in 2018, chislic is thought to have been introduced to the area in the 1870s by a Crimean immigrant and has remained a beloved dish and tradition ever since.
Despite it being a state staple, nearly every region of SoDak makes the dish a little differently, with the capital city battering the meat, Sioux Falls just barely dusting it with flour and serving it with hot sauce, and Watertown serving it with a side of ranch dressing.
While we may disagree on the meat's preparation, one thing is for sure (aside from needing saltine crackers on the side): Chislic is truly a meal that brings both families and South Dakotans together.
Despite Thrillist's harsh critique of its appearance, they do also admit that "It's actually delicious," which we will chalk up to a win despite the rest of the blurb's criticism.
Ha. We knew it.
For a more in-depth look at the history and importance of chislic in SoDak, check out this fun video from Dakota Life:
Editor's Note: Unfortunately, the original Thrillist article previously linked to is no longer available to read. That's okay, though! We'll keep our chislic to ourselves, please, and thank you.
Native South Dakotans and new residents alike - have you ever tried chislic? Do you consider it to be one of South Dakota's most famous foods? And are you a fan? Let us know. Planning to road trip it to SoDak for the chislic? Don't forget our awesome road trip snack packing list.
To discover even more of South Dakota's favorite foods, check out these iconic South Dakota dishes.
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