I'm ready to branch out in MEAT and would like suggestions.

jerber160
jerber160 Posts: 2,606 Member
I've never even cooked a capon. or quail.. or anything 'unusual'. In fact i've never roasted a whole chicken. I guess you just do it like a turkey? i have a terrific specialty store near me - lots of their exotics are frozen but I think I'd like to try. a quail is listed as 113 calories in data base. I t hink they have pheasant? ostrich? any suggestions on where to start.
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Replies

  • sunnyside1213
    sunnyside1213 Posts: 1,205 Member
    One word. Bacon.
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
    I've tried all kinds of different meat, and honestly, I don't care much for them. squirrel, duck, pheasant, rabbit, it all just tastes like wild animals. My uncle made kick @ss awesome deer jerky and sausage but other wise, I'll stick with chicken.
  • jerber160
    jerber160 Posts: 2,606 Member
    One word. Bacon.
    stop that! bacon is just weird. there are bacon band aids and bacon xmas ornaments and bacon scented soap. I saw pictures of thanksgiving turkeys wrapped in bacon. that much bacon is WEIRD... and this is a diet site peeps... OYE. 130 cals for 3 crispy lil strips.. I mean I love bacon but not in bulk....
  • jerber160
    jerber160 Posts: 2,606 Member
    I've tried all kinds of different meat, and honestly, I don't care much for them. squirrel, duck, pheasant, rabbit, it all just tastes like wild animals. My uncle made kick @ss awesome deer jerky and sausage but other wise, I'll stick with chicken.
    i did a rabbit once.. it bombed.. but I'd be willing to try again....i think i tried something foofoo instead of just dejoining it and roasting the thing (is that the right word? breaking things apart at the joints?)
  • bathsheba_c
    bathsheba_c Posts: 1,873 Member
    I'm a huge fan of bison, especially cooked like a roast beef. Venison is pretty okay as a stew. That's about as exotic as I've gotten.
  • LittleMissNerdy
    LittleMissNerdy Posts: 792 Member
    I've had boar, bison & venison. I've loved them all! But just like with anything else, it comes down to how you cook it, what cut, ect. The tenderloin from a deer can be AMAZING if prepared right.
  • JaceyMarieS
    JaceyMarieS Posts: 692 Member
    Elk is amazing - better than beef. Bison is also quite good. I like venison backstraps/tenderloins - they rival filet mignon - but we grind the rest of the deer into ground meat

    Pheasant is very good, but can be very dry. Bacon is actually an excellent idea - I wrap my birds in bacon and put them on a rotisserie. braising is also an option.

    I'm not a fan of squirrel or rabbit, and find bear, duck and goose too greasy.
  • vanguardfitness
    vanguardfitness Posts: 720 Member
    Alligator tastes like chicken. Lamb is pretty good but only if it's seasoned well. Try to find an arab restaurant for lamb meat
  • Bison! Nomnomnom. Duck is good as well, but can be a little fatty.
  • jerber160
    jerber160 Posts: 2,606 Member
    Alligator tastes like chicken. Lamb is pretty good but only if it's seasoned well. Try to find an arab restaurant for lamb meat
    I've only had alligator once, in a restaurant in new orleans and it wasn't all that. it was breaded and deep friends and BOOORINNGGGG> I've never tried to cook it. Lamb is luscious.. we have it for easter... or yes,, middle eastern restaurants, but easter is the best..
  • Firefox7275
    Firefox7275 Posts: 2,040 Member
    I've never even cooked a capon. or quail.. or anything 'unusual'. In fact i've never roasted a whole chicken. I guess you just do it like a turkey? i have a terrific specialty store near me - lots of their exotics are frozen but I think I'd like to try. a quail is listed as 113 calories in data base. I t hink they have pheasant? ostrich? any suggestions on where to start.

    Many game meats are lean, tough and strong flavoured so taste best stewed/ casseroled/ slow cooked. Farmed birds are tender partly because they do little exercise. Ask in the store which is the least game-y and the easiest to cook, start with something easy or you may get disheartened. They should know their stock well. Fruit is good cooked with many game meats.
  • jerber160
    jerber160 Posts: 2,606 Member
    I've never even cooked a capon. or quail.. or anything 'unusual'. In fact i've never roasted a whole chicken. I guess you just do it like a turkey? i have a terrific specialty store near me - lots of their exotics are frozen but I think I'd like to try. a quail is listed as 113 calories in data base. I t hink they have pheasant? ostrich? any suggestions on where to start.

    Many game meats are lean, tough and strong flavoured so taste best stewed/ casseroled/ slow cooked. Farmed birds are tender partly because they do little exercise. Ask in the store which is the least game-y and the easiest to cook, start with something easy or you may get disheartened. They should know their stock well. Fruit is good cooked with many game meats.
    thank you... fruit? as in glaze, or stuffing inside birds or rolled inside?
  • jmc0806
    jmc0806 Posts: 1,444 Member
    Bison, buffalo, lamb are all good. I tried impala and that was pretty good but probably hard to get...

    When I had crocodile it tasted like ham...
  • PaulaDygert
    PaulaDygert Posts: 148 Member
    My husband and his friends do a lot of hunting so we have a lot of game food tonight we had deer tacos, look up ways to cook it online. That is what I do. We just got a smoker and it is awesome!!! Bacon does take out the game taste and we use it a lot for deer roast and deer loins but I don't eat the bacon... Also we have used apple juice to baste it with lots of ways to cook it.
  • autovatic
    autovatic Posts: 99 Member
    I've had any number of game meats over time, and I really like many of them. For rabbit, I make it braised in red wine.

    I would say that the key to "exotic" meats is to know their provenance and source them locally, if you can. I know that sounds like a contradiction, but a lot of farms are trying their hand at unusual livestock like bison and elk, and they will taste much, much better than something shipped and frozen from who knows where.
  • jerber160
    jerber160 Posts: 2,606 Member
    hmm old thread but i recently had wild boar ravioli. it killed me. beyond good. mmmmI didn't make it tho...local restaurant. and since this thread I've had some really tender, nice alligator. I also found the capon to be stupid.
  • Sandcastles61
    Sandcastles61 Posts: 506 Member
    The key to these lean wild animals is low and slow on the heat. You should also use some type of braising liquid to keep them moist if you are roasting, or cook on the stove in a sauce .... The correct herbs for each meat is crucial. We love quail, rabbit, venison, elk, antelope and bison. Pheasant is good but has a funky color LOL. Berry sauces go great over top of roasted. Enjoy your continued experiment
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 17,954 Member
    Kangaroo is delicious, lean and versatile. Don't know your chances of getting your hands on any though! :D
  • dougpconnell219
    dougpconnell219 Posts: 566 Member
    I had rattlesnake once. Kinda like fish. Bad fish.
  • jenglish712
    jenglish712 Posts: 497 Member
    I've only ever had wild pheasant... which a little dark and gamey. I haven't made it in years but I think last time I stuffed it with onions and oranges and baked it in a sweet citrus juice. You have to be a bit heavier handed with many game meats.