Innkeeper worms, known as Urechis unicinctus, intrigue many. Found in East Asia, these ocean creatures gained popularity in certain cuisines. What do they taste like? The taste is rather neutral initially. However, chewing unleashes true flavors.
Called gaebul in Korea, they translate to “dog genitals,” resembling them. Urechis unicinctus, known as the fat innkeeper worm or penis fish, lives in China’s Bohai Gulf and off Korean and Japanese coasts. It has a cylindrical, yellowish-brown, 10-30 cm long body with many small papillae. A detritivore burrowing in sand and mud, it creates U-shaped burrows using mucus.
Enjoyed live by Koreans, the penis fish, marine worms called spoon worms, wriggle on plates. Tasting like saltwater, they are sometimes eaten as aphrodisiacs. Safe when sensitive stomachs are concerned? No, gopchang is not. Urechis unicinctus feeds on microscopic organic material. It is not to be confused with the related Urechis caupo occurring along North America’s west coast.
What does Gaebul taste like?
Gaebul itself does not have much taste, except for a hint of sweetness. The pleasure largely comes from the texture. The rubbery texture makes it quite hard to chew. As the creature lacks a distinctive taste, it is served with sesame oil mixed with salt or Korean chili paste with vinegar.
In this region, where the sea is especially shallow, vast tidal areas allow for an easier “harvest”. Although the process itself of finding and digging up Gaebul requires a good portion of dexterity and practice.
The main culinary characteristic of Gaebul is its very chewy texture. While the taste of the worm is rather neutral in the beginning, Koreans claim that the real flavor is released while chewing on it. The pink, wriggling seafood has a slightly salty and fishy taste, similar to that of clams. There is a surprisingly sweet note to it, especially when it has been freshly rinsed with sea water.
Gaebul is the Korean word for the rather odd-looking fish which translates as ‘penis fish’. And while it may look like a somewhat unappetising male genital, it’s actually a popular delicacy throughout the country. The fish’s real scientific name is Urechis unicinctus and its other not-so-scientific name is the fat innkeeper worm.
Gaebul or ‘penis fish’ is a traditional and popular snack in South Korea. Because of its pinkish to brown appearance, it made a huge resemblance to the male private part. Hence, the name ‘penis fish’.
It’s also called the “fat innkeeper worm” because it creates U-shaped tunnels in the mud where other species like small crabs and tiny fish take up residence, feeding on the gaebul’s leftovers. And about those eating habits: The gaebul creates a slimy mucus “net” inside its tunnel and sucks water in, trapping plankton and other particles until the net is full, then gobbles up the entire net, plankton and all.
Gaebul fish, also known as the Penis Fish, is a unique and peculiar sea creature that’s become a culinary delicacy in South Korea. This phallic-shaped organism is typically consumed raw, offering a distinctive and memorable dining experience. The name itself, Gaebul, translates to penis fish, accurately describing the intriguing physical characteristics of this underwater creature.
What are Korean spoon worms?
Spoon worms are marine animals found in Korean fish markets. Their phallic shape and rumored aphrodisiac properties earned them the nickname “penis fish”. Koreans eat silkworm pupae called beondegi, meaning “pupa”. It is a boiled or steamed street food served in paper cups.
Koreans eat unusual dishes like dog soup, horse barbecue, steamed silkworm pupae, and fried grasshoppers. Spoon worms, also known as “penis fish,” are marine animals. Koreans usually eat them raw and alive. The worms are cut into pieces and continue wriggling before being eaten. They reportedly taste salty and sweet.
Octopus is a famous Korean dish. The live octopus is one of the most exotic Korean foods among foreigners. Beondegi is made from boiled or steamed silkworm pupae the size of raisins. It can be served hot or cold.
The enigmatic spoon worm has long captured curiosity for its appearance and cuisine. From ocean depths, it has a distinct salty flavor. Stories exist of the worm having aphrodisiac properties, enticing culinary adventure seekers. As the oceanic tang tantalizes tastebuds, one is transported to a world unlocking sea secrets.
What is the Chinese name for Urechis unicinctus?
Urechis unicinctus is known as the fat innkeeper worm or penis fish. It is found in East Asia. The body is cylindrical in shape and yellowish-brown in color. On the surface of the body there are many small papillae. In Chinese cuisine, the worm is stir-fried with vegetables, or dried and powdered to be used as an umami enhancer. It is also used as fishing bait for fish such as flounder and sea bream.
Urechis unicinctus is a species of marine spoon worm. It is widely referred to as the fat innkeeper worm or the penis fish. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urechis_unicinctus.
Urechis unicinctus is a large sand-burrowing species of hedgehog worms from the Urechidae family that is found in the Pacific Ocean on the coasts of China, Korea and Japan. The cylindrical, sausage-shaped, yellowish-brown trunk, covered with many small papillae, has a wrinkled skin and is about 10 cm to 30 cm long. At the front end near the mouth there is a spoon-shaped, short proboscis.
Urechis unicinctus is a species of marine spoon worm widely referred to as the fat innkeeper worm or the penis fish. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urechis_unicinctus.
The penis fish is not actually a fish but a species of marine spoon worm. The scientific name is Urechis Unicinctus, also known as fat innkeeper worm primarily found in East Asian countries.
Also known as the penis fish, Urechis unicinctus is a species of marine spoonworm found throughout East Asia. It feeds on microscopic organic material and creates burrows in sand and mud.
U. unicinctus lives in burrows in sand and mud. It gets the name “fat innkeeper worm” because the tunnels often contain other animals. This spoon worm is commonly eaten raw with salt and sesame oil or chojang in Korea. In Chinese cuisine the worm is stir-fried with vegetables, or dried and powdered to be used as an umami enhancer.