Placenta: roasted, as a smoothie, dehydrated, in lasagna
My anonymous pregnant friend has been educating me on everything baby-related from the intrawebs forums. I now know all sides of the great cloth vs. disposable diaper debate as well as the benefits and risks of breast feeding. My latest delight was learning that she has a friend who ate her placenta as a smoothie the week after giving birth. I promptly typed "placenta" into Wikipedia and learned that the practice of eating the placenta is called placentophagy. Animals normally consume the placenta, but few human cultures partake (ceremonies for burying, burning, or otherwise revering the placenta are common, however).
From my research, the crazy pregnant ladies seem to have two reasons for engaging in placentophagy: reducing the risk of post-partum depression and providing nutrition to the mother, neither of which has been scientifically proven as a benefit. Dr Maggie Blott, a spokeswoman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, claims there's no medical justification for the practice. "Animals eat their placenta to get nutrition - but when people are already well-nourished, there is no benefit, there is no reason to do it," she says.
For all of you wannabe earth mothers, here are some recipes
Roast Placenta: in a loaf pan with onion, tomatoes, and spices!
Placenta Cocktail: a smoothie with carrots and V-8 juice
Placenta Lasagna: make your regular lasagna and use placenta in place of one layer of cheese
Placenta Spaghetti Bolognaise: placenta browned in butter in olive oil
Dehydrating your placenta: Make a fine powder, put it in capsules, and enjoy!
I've also seen placenta sashimi and placenta tartare mentioned, but I haven't read any stories from mothers who actually made and consumed such delicious raw placenta delights.
Another note to chefs - placenta is "done" when you pierce it with a fork and no blood comes out. I hope they include that in the next Joy of Cooking update.
From my research, the crazy pregnant ladies seem to have two reasons for engaging in placentophagy: reducing the risk of post-partum depression and providing nutrition to the mother, neither of which has been scientifically proven as a benefit. Dr Maggie Blott, a spokeswoman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, claims there's no medical justification for the practice. "Animals eat their placenta to get nutrition - but when people are already well-nourished, there is no benefit, there is no reason to do it," she says.
For all of you wannabe earth mothers, here are some recipes
Roast Placenta: in a loaf pan with onion, tomatoes, and spices!
Placenta Cocktail: a smoothie with carrots and V-8 juice
Placenta Lasagna: make your regular lasagna and use placenta in place of one layer of cheese
Placenta Spaghetti Bolognaise: placenta browned in butter in olive oil
Dehydrating your placenta: Make a fine powder, put it in capsules, and enjoy!
I've also seen placenta sashimi and placenta tartare mentioned, but I haven't read any stories from mothers who actually made and consumed such delicious raw placenta delights.
Another note to chefs - placenta is "done" when you pierce it with a fork and no blood comes out. I hope they include that in the next Joy of Cooking update.