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What things taste like
Game
Alligator The choicest cut is the tail meat which is white and
very much like veal in texture. The tenderloin comes from a cylindrical tube inside
the tail. The body meat is somewhat darker and has a stronger taste and slightly
tougher texture. It is very similar to pork shoulder. Alligator tastes somewhere
between chicken and rabbit, with perhaps a hint of frog legs. Alligator can be used
in jambalayas, soups, and stews.
Antelope look like deer but they are actually members of an animal
family that includes goats and oxen. Mild-tasting and finely grained, antelope meat
is similar to venison. Antelope has one-third the calories of beef.
Buffalo (Bison) is similar taste to beef, but rather coarsely textured
and sweet. It has significant advantages over beef — it is high in protein and extremely
low in cholesterol (approximately 30 percent less than beef), and has about half
the calories and fat of beef. Buffalo meat should be cooked slow, low, and not as
thoroughly as beef (specifically rare to medium-rare). The density of this meat
provides a more satisfying portion allowing for reduction in quantity per person.
Caribou is closely related to the reindeer. Its meat is finely
grained and resembles veal or antelope in flavor and texture.
Cervena is the appellation for farm raised Venison from New Zealand.
The term was created to differentiate New Zealand Venison from others available
around the world (like Champagne as apposed to sparkling wine). The standards for
Cervena are strict. Animals whether red deer or fallow deer, must be between 18
and 30 months of age to guarantee proper size and texture, and must be raised without
antibiotics or growth stimulants. Venison is very lean, low in fat and cholesterol
and yet very high in protein. Cervena is less gamey than domestic venison, but still
richer in flavor than traditional red meats. Elk is the second largest member of
the deer family. Elk is very dark and coarsely grained. It can be described as the
sweetestof the deer meats. Elk can be cooked in the same way as venison.
Frog Legs do taste something like chicken. They can be sautéed
in olive oil for 8 to 12 minutes for medium sized legs, and topped with sauce.
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Game Cont.
Kangaroo Serve kangaroo meat medium rare or rare. Brush with olive
oil before pan sautéing, baking or barbecuing. Kangaroo meat is similar to venison
in flavor and can be used in any venison recipe.
Lamb Our lamb is from New Zealand and Australia. The meat is generally
younger than U.S. lamb and packaged with only a very small fat crown. New Zealand
lamb is known world-wide for its unique flavor and texture.
Rabbit Farm-raised rabbit is lean, slightly sweet meat with a closely
textured flesh that has virtually no fat and is very high in protein. Rabbit is
an alternative to chicken, with the additional advantage that it is commonly raised
without the use of hormones or steroids.
Rattlesnake is light and chewy, with a delicate flavor that resembles
chicken. Rattlesnake chili is a favorite dish at a number of restaurants in the
Southwestern U.S.
Snapping Turtle has the texture of frog legs or lobster. The four
legs and the tail are dark meat; the next and back straps are white meat.
Venison is low in fat, low in calories and low in cholesterol.
Venison is darker red and more richly flavored than beef. Farm–raised venison does
not have the gamey taste of wild venison. Cook venison quickly over high heat and
always serve rare or medium rare or it will become tough and chewy. Wild Boar meat
has a sweet, nutty, and intense flavor. Wild boar meat is leaner and deeper red
than pork; meat of the young boar is very tender.
Wild boar meat may be prepared like pork. Do not overcook as this
may toughen the meat.
Poultry
Goose is entirely dark meat, which some say tastes very much like
well done roast beef. Goose has a great deal of fat between the skin and meat, but
the meat itself is very lean. The skin should be pricked every inch before roasting
to release the fat.
Ostrich is a lean, tender red meat with a light, delicate flavor
similar to prime quality beef. Ostrich is extremely low in fat, with very little
cholesterol. The best cooking methods are sauteing or quickly frilling over hot
coals to medium rare.
Pheasant is one of the most popular of game birds. Pheasant has
pinkish white meat. The delicate flavor of farm-raised pheasant is subtle and pleasant,
with a discernable trace of apple in many cases.
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Poultry Cont.
Quail has red meat with a delicate texture and a sweet nutty flavor.
Quail is often stuffed with a "forcemeat" due to its small size (5 to
6 ounces with only a few ounces of breastmeat per bird) Two quail make a main course
for one person. Squab (Pigeon or Rock Dove) is succulent, but it retains the earthy
flavor undertones that please many diners. Squab is rich dark meat of delicate texture.
The average squab weighs about 14 ounces, enough to serve one person. Squab should
be served medium rare, so that the juices run pink and the meat remains slightly
rosy and moist.
Wild Turkey are smaller and have darker meat, richer, more intense
flavor, and firmer texture than domestic turkey. The breast, being smaller, tends
to cook faster than legs or thighs. Barding the breast with bacon or covering the
breast with oiledpaper or foil, and basting the whole bird with butter or oil and
cooking liquid is recommended. Wild Turkey must not be overcooked because it would
become too dry. |