The Walking Dead Needs You to Try This Post-Apocalyptic Recipe: "I Want to See If It's Edible"

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The Walking Dead cast with Rick leading the way staring over a bowl of stroganoff Custom image by Marcel Green

While The Walking Dead primarily tells a story of survival, one fundamental aspect that often gets overshadowed by the hype of the zombie apocalypse and the aggressive competition among the remaining clusters of humanity is the necessity of securing an ongoing and consistent means of sustenance. To be clear, unless you're a zombie, eating human flesh is not a viable option for survivors.

Establishing and maintaining a reliable food system in such an environment is no easy task. As a result, there must be considerable improvisation taking place - at least according to The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman. Kirkman addressed this problem directly when responding to a reader's question in the "Letter Hacks" section of The Walking Dead Deluxe #103.

 Spencer and Andrea discuss dinner in The Walking Dead #77

The reader, intrigued by the Beef Jerky Stroganoff that Spencer Monroe offered to Andrea in The Walking Dead #77 by Kirkman and Charlie Adlard, inquired about the origin of this creative dish. Despite the question's lighthearted nature, Kirkman provided a thoughtful and detailed response - though he's not sure if it's "edible." As he says in the response:

I thought a really crappy dish to make in the apocalypse would be Stroganoff made with beef jerky instead of hamburger [...] I just figured jerky would last and boxed stroganoff is essentially just a dust pouch, right?

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 The Walking Dead cast of characters pose together.

Kirkman admits that he came up with the idea of Beef Jerky Stroganoff, which he felt was a fitting choice for survivors given the harsh environment they lived in. He makes a valid point. Life in the zombie apocalypse, as depicted by Kirkman and Adlard, closely resembles living in a war zone. There is little accessible land for growing fresh crops or raising livestock, minimal time to dedicate to farming or animal husbandry, and almost no means to protect workers, crops, or animals effectively.

Spencer, despite his questionable personality, undoubtedly possessed some of the same creative culinary skills.

As a result, survivors —much like soldiers in a war— rely on food that is easy to transport, store, prepare, and resistant to spoilage. The characters depend on instant foods, canned goods, and dried products. Of course, while such rations effectively quell hunger, they are hardly gourmet. However, like soldiers, resourceful survivors often find ways to enhance their meals, such as by combining different components – like in a beef jerky and Stroganoff mix – to make them more palatable. Spencer, despite his questionable personality, undoubtedly possesses some of the same creative culinary skills.

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Interestingly, while the Beef Jerky Stroganoff recipe makes narrative sense, Kirkman confessed uncertainty about its taste, hoping someone would test it to see if it was "edible." Surprisingly, a segment of the Walking Dead readership, including this writer, took on the challenge. The recipe even gained official recognition in Lauren Wilson and Yunhee Kim's book, The Walking Dead: The Official Cookbook and Survival Guide.

There are many ways to make a Stroganoff dish, but the assumption here is that Spencer’s version is a basic boxed variation. In this iteration, beef jerky is stewed with noodles in a sauce made from a powdered “cream of mushroom” flavor packet, powdered milk, and water. If this is indeed Spencer’s recipe, it surprisingly yields a dish that's not only edible but quite tasty. However, it’s not something you’d want to eat day after day.

Negan from the Walking Dead TV show (left) and the Deluxe version of the Walking Dead comics (right.)

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While the texture of the beef jerky can be chewy (a problem that might be mitigated by soaking the meat before cooking), as Wilson and Kim’s book suggests, the beefy flavor “remains mostly intact.” If this outcome is what Kirkman envisioned for the dish, then while it might not win any Michelin stars, it’s certainly a suitable meal for the world of The Walking Dead.

The Walking Dead Deluxe #103 is available now from Skybound Entertainment.

Sources: The Walking Dead: The Official Cookbook and Survival Guide

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The Walking Dead (2010) Movie Poster
The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead is a massive multimedia franchise that began with a comic book series created by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The franchise gained widespread popularity with the launch of the television series The Walking Dead in 2010 on AMC, which chronicles the lives of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies, referred to as "walkers." The success of the original show has led to numerous spin-offs, web series, video games, novels, and other media. The franchise explores themes of survival, human nature, and the breakdown of society in the face of an existential threat, making it one of the most successful and influential horror series of the 21st century.

Upcoming TV Shows More Tales from the Walking Dead Universe

First Episode Air Date October 31, 2010

Character(s) Rick Grimes , Daryl Dixon , Michonne , Carol Peletier , Maggie Greene , Negan , Glenn Rhee , Hershel Greene , The Governor , Alpha

Summary

The Walking Dead is a massive multimedia franchise that began with a comic book series created by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The franchise gained widespread popularity with the launch of the television series The Walking Dead in 2010 on AMC, which chronicles the lives of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies, referred to as "walkers." The success of the original show has led to numerous spin-offs, web series, video games, novels, and other media. The franchise explores themes of survival, human nature, and the breakdown of society in the face of an existential threat, making it one of the most successful and influential horror series of the 21st century.

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