What are the origins of steak tartare?
There has been some sources claim that it is Mongolian food. The Mongols under Genghis Khan had placed pieces of meat under their saddles to tenderize them by the pressure, instead of cooking them—hence "steak tartare." While they may indeed have sometimes placed meat under their saddles, whether they did do so for culinary reasons or to protect the back of their horses from getting chafed by the saddle is unknown.
