Turtle Curry
Turtle Curry is a traditional Southeast Asian dish, particularly found in parts of Indonesia and Malaysia, where turtle meat is slow-cooked in a rich, aromatic curry paste. The meat is typically simmered with coconut milk, lemongrass, galangal, turmeric, and chilies until tender. Due to conservation concerns, the consumption of turtle meat is now illegal or heavily restricted in many regions.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is a high-protein, high-fat meal due to the turtle meat and coconut milk base. It provides key nutrients like iron, zinc, and B vitamins, with a rough calorie estimate of 400-500 kcal per typical serving.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 450 kcal |
| Protein | 35 g |
| Carbs | 12 g |
| Fat | 30 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 650 mg |
| Iron | 4.5 mg |
| Zinc | 6.2 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 2.8 mcg |
| Selenium | 45 mcg |
| Phosphorus | 280 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 8 mg |
| Potassium | 420 mg |
| Magnesium | 35 mg |
Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, it was historically considered a delicacy and sometimes used in traditional medicine. Nutritionally, turtle meat is notably lean and high in protein, but the curry preparation adds significant fat from coconut milk.
