Chislic is a preparation of cubed red meat

Red meat

Red meat in traditional culinary terminology is meat which is red when raw and not white when cooked. In the nutritional sciences, red meat includes all mammal meat. Red meat includes the meat of most adult mammals and some fowl ....

, usually deep-fried or grilled

Grilling

Grilling is a form of cooking that involves dry heat applied to the surface of food, commonly from above or below.Grilling usually involves a significant amount of direct, radiant heat, and tends to be used for cooking meat quickly and meat that has already been cut into slices...

. It is virtually unknown outside the state of South Dakota

South Dakota

South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...

 in the USA

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. The term, while non-specific to any particular meat or seasoning, generally describes wild game

Game (food)

Game is any animal hunted for food or not normally domesticated. Game animals are also hunted for sport.The type and range of animals hunted for food varies in different parts of the world. This will be influenced by climate, animal diversity, local taste and locally accepted view about what can or...

, mutton, or beef

Beef

Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...

, deep-fried and served hot on a skewer

Skewer

A skewer is a thin metal or wood stick used to hold pieces of food together. They are used while grilling or roasting meats, and in other culinary applications....

 or toothpick

Toothpick

A toothpick is a small stick of wood, plastic, bamboo, metal, bone or other substance used to remove detritus from the teeth, usually after a meal. A toothpick usually has one or two sharp ends to insert between teeth. They can also be used for picking up small appetizers or as a cocktail...

.

Etymology

The word chislic is likely derived from schaschlik, the German variant of shashlik

Shashlik

Shashlyk or Shashlik , is a form of Shish kebab popular throughout Israel, Lithuania, former Soviet Union, Iran, Mongolia, and parts of central Europe. Shashlyk is originally lamb depending on local preferences and religious observances...

, which is cubed meat or liver grilled on a skewer with tomatoes, peppers, and onions. Chislic may have originated as a derivative of shish kebab, as the pronunciation of the word bears a close resemblance to other items in the same food family. The delicacy's arrival in America has been traced to John Hoellwarth, who arrived in Hutchinson County, SD in the 1870's from Crimea in southern Russia, where "shashlyk" was popular.

It can be made from a variety of red meats such as venison, bison, elk, lamb and beef. Originally, chislic may have been made from lamb or sheep, rather than the currently popular beef sirloin.

Preparation

A typical chislic preparation can be rather simple:

1. Cut meat into small cubes, generally no bigger than a half-inch. The meat may include any of the following: lamb, beef, venison, goose.
2. Into a deep-fryer, drop the cubed chunks of meat and cook to desired degree of doneness. Generally, chislic is not overcooked, and served medium rare
   Medium Rare
   The Medium is Singapore's first full-length English language film. It was released in local cinemas in late 1991 and produced by Singaporean Errol Pang. It was initially supposed to be directed by a Singaporean, Tony Yeow, then by an American, Stan Barret, and finally by Arthur Smith, who was...
   
    to medium -- i.e. warm pink inside.
3. After cooking, place the meat on a paper towel and allow to cool slightly. While the meat is cooling, sprinkle with Lawry's Seasoned Salt or garlic salt.
4. Insert toothpicks into the cubes of meat and serve hot.

Regional differences

Chislic is deep fried meat on a skewer that may vary slightly in preparation from region to region.

In the Pierre

Pierre, South Dakota

Pierre is the capital of the U.S. state of South Dakota and the county seat of Hughes County. The population was 13,646 at the 2010 census, making it the second least populous state capital after Montpelier, Vermont...

 area, if you ask for chislic, you will most often get a marinated meat, dipped in batter and deep-fat fried. This local delicacy started showing at Rocky Mountain oyster feeds as an alternative for those who did not eat calf testicles, which were also dipped in batter and deep-fat fried. The marinades vary and are often family secrets.

In the Sioux Falls area, chislic, usually deep fried mutton, is a popular bar food to accompany cold beer. It is often served with salt, soda crackers and hot sauce.

In the southeastern South Dakota communities of Menno

Menno, South Dakota

Menno is a city in Hutchinson County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 608 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Menno is located at ....

 and Freeman

Freeman, South Dakota

Freeman is a city in Hutchinson County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,306 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....

, chislic is generally prepared deep-fried in restaurants. The meat is almost invariably lamb, but wild game chislic, such as venison, may appear when in season. It is traditionally seasoned with garlic salt and eaten with soda crackers. The small, blunt skewer - or sometimes a toothpick – usually holds five or six cubes of meat. The same dish is also served grilled when prepared for large groups, such as gatherings at community organization fund-raisers or baseball games during the Fourth of July. The grilled variety is sometimes cooked with a brushing of barbecue sauce

Barbecue sauce

Barbecue sauce is a flavoring sauce or condiment ranging from watery to very thick consistency. As the name implies, it was created as an accompaniment to barbecued foods. While it can be applied to any food, it usually tops meat after cooking or during barbecuing, grilling, or baking...

.

Annually in Freeman, SD, a chislic feast is held. Chislic can be found in Scotland, SD as well as other southeastern South Dakota towns. The local bars sometimes hold giant chislic feasts where more than 1200 sticks of chislic may be consumed.

External links

• Chislic recipe