Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. This will make it tender. The meat is quite fatty, which can be a problem when cutting the meat. Most people will choose to cook the whole alligator. And you know what that means football parties, Cajun cook-offs, and an infinite supply of good times! Ovens vary in their temperature, so be sure to measure the temperature of your alligator before putting it in the oven. Coat a large casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. You can make alligator meat into a variety of dishes. Heat your grill to high. Cajun Fried Alligator. Continue to 6 of 8 below. Preheat the grill to 400F. If you let it sit for longer than 2 hours, the consistency of the meat might begin to change. Barkemeyer said he sells 20,000 to 25,000 pounds of the sausage a year, and he ships it around the country. Cook the alligator for about 15 to 20 minutes after you sear it if you're cooking a thin steak, and 25 to 30 minutes after you sear it if you're cooking a thick steak. The alligator fillet is a very lean cut of meat. So, if you want to cook alligator fillet for dinner, you can try my recipe. Buttermilk is a better tenderizer than acid, but you have more flavoring options . Whisk well. If desired, sprinkle top with shredded cheese after baking. js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; The legs, which chef Greg Sonnier smokes at Kingfish as gator "wings" with a tomato gastrique, are red meat and not as tender, Pearce said. NEW !!!! Dispose of any extra marinade. Add one cup of ice water to the mixture. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Hold the skin back with your non-dominant hand. Farm-raised alligators are smaller and less fatty than wild ones, Pearce said, adding, "Wild is still great. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Place the alligator fillet on a baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes, or until it is cooked through. Alligator meat is a popular dish in the southern United States, and can be cooked in a variety of ways. Alligators have a lot of tough connective tissue, so it can take some time for the meat to become tender. Youll just want to be choosy about which recipes you use for the different cuts. 4. Cover the Dutch oven or pan. Instructions on how to actually killthe alligator aren't included but even if they were, um, don't try to get alligator meat that way. In this video we go to New Orleans to meet a man who makes alligator fillets. In a small bowl, mix together olive oil, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt. and using both hands, blend the ingredients well. Florida-based YouTube starsRobert Arrington and his wife Sarah will teach you how to properly prepare, grill and fry an alligator tail. You can grill them with the hood of the grill up or down. Here is a recipe for alligator fillet that is easy to follow. The frying method involves frying the alligator fillet in a mixture of salt, pepper and oil. Some Cajun cooks like to keep it simple, and just pop it in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes with a little garlic butter and a smidge of lemon to let the taste and textures speak for themselves. Out of stock. Cook Time: 15 minutes. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. 06 of 08. Cooking alligator may be old hat for many home cooks, and it's quite apparentchefs are cooking it all over the place. What part of the animal is this? Mix all dry ingredients for breading; Mix all wet ingredients, for an egg wash. Dip each Gator Tender Strip into the Egg Wash. Then cover with the breading. The process requires that the meat be immersed in boiling hot water for at least two minutes. The ice will slowly start to remove the skin. The tail also has white meat in it that isnt a part of the tenderloin. Grill the alligator for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Not sure where to buy your meat? packs of alligator tail meat tenderized and ready to go! 5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Exotic Meat. 26 Vibrant Cocktail Recipes Made For Spring Yahoo Life, Lentil soup, the recipe you need to prepare a delicious dish Gastrolab | passion for cooking, Yes you can: how to make beer-can chicken recipe The Guardian, Legume flour: 6 tips to learn how to make it and a simple recipe Gastrolab | passion for cooking. ** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. The cornstarch in the buttermilk batter makes the coating crispy. "You can use it in jambalaya, gumbo, or any kind of stew, any place you would use smoked sausage, such as red beans and rice.". We might be known for being your go-to resource during crawfish season, but that doesnt mean that we dont know a little something about gators, too. Never tried to smoke it but it sounds like someone ruined some good gator. It will also get a nice, golden-brown color. I hope youll check out my blog and my recipes, and I look forward to hearing from you! An ideal way to prepare alligator is to boil it. Catfish is low in calories is filled with many healthy nutrients such as omega-3 . The belly, which is the part of the cut that contains the fat, is cut into bite-sized portions. If its not, then its likely still in its first stage of cooking. 1 Pat the alligator meat dry. The rest of the alligator can then be removed from the bone. Believe it or not, gators have red meat too. Combine the orange juice, honey, bourbon and ginger to make a glaze. There are various cooking methods that you can use to cook alligator. Alligator Sauce Piquante Over Creamy Stone Ground Grits. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook fish well. How long does it take to cook alligator meat? The pheromones are chemicals that act as signals to other animals, such as other people. Sonnier has . Use a slotted spoon to lift the calamari rings out of the buttermilk. Toss the meat with the seasoning and allow to marinate for up to 45 . Check the steaks' internal temperature with a meat thermometer to make sure they reach 165 degrees before serving. This can be done with a knife, or by placing the alligator in a large bowl of ice. I specialize in healthy, flavorful recipes that are easy to make at home. The most popular and best portion of the gator is the tenderloin, which is found in the alligators tail. Dip the alligator in the flour and shake off. "It's a fully cooked product, but the best way to cook it is on the grill," he said. 1 lb alligator sirloin. This will help to make the flavors more potent and keep the meat moist while it cooks on the grill. If you have extra kabobs, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 week. When it is cooked, the alligator will be a light pink color. First, you need to clean the alligator. Lets take a closer look. Remove the skin as soon as it loosens. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. 2023 Acadia Crawfish. The alligator is very lean so you need to make sure to remove the fat from it. It is also much easier to slice if it is boiled first. It requires high amounts of fat, so it needs to be cooked well. Second, the alligator meat should be very moist and tender. His company packaged the 1-pound bags of frozen alligator I bought at Rouse's Supermarkets for the video. So delicious! Alligator is a type of meat that can be very hard to prepare properly. Please do not run out into the swamp and try to cut yourself off some alligator tail meat. When the batter turns a golden brown and the meat floats to the top of the oil, the alligator is cooked thoroughly! Why not? Powered by the ESHA Research Database 2018, ESHA Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved, alligator meat, cut into bite-size pieces. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes. How to Cook Brussels Sprouts on the Stove, in the Oven & More, http://www.wideopencountry.com/youll-hunting-alligators-seeing-gator-meat-recipe/, https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/84273/alligator-fingers/, https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/fried-alligator-nuggets-recipe-1941458. Grilled alligator is more popular because of the meats texture. Thread marinated alligator cubes onto skewers, alternating with vegetable or fruit cubes. And the fat on alligator is outside the pieces, not striated throughout the meat like, for instance, beef or pork. 3. Alligator meat is a popular dish in the southern United States. Add the alligator tails to the bowl and toss to coat. Start with the larger pieces. Heat to 360 degrees F. Coat the alligator meat with the fish batter. Put the herbs into a large mixing bowl. Marinate the alligator steak for 2 to 3 hours. What Temperature Should You Cook Chicken? Tail meat is a choice cut of white meat that is mild in flavor with a texture similar to veal. These include olive oil, salmon, avocado, nuts and seeds. Don't miss a story! This will also help to keep your alligator meat moist as it cooks. But this is not the case. Gotta agree 110% with the EMAN on this one - aligator sauce piquant is one of my favorites! Drain the fried gator on a rack or a baking sheet lined with paper towels. This is the section that earns folks say tastes like chicken, meaning it's mild and white. The milk helps to break down the food and makes it easier to digest. Tenderize it using a standard meat mallet and for an extra delish result, sprinkle on your favorite meat tenderizer, too. Wipe the buttermilk from the steaks and let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. The chef compared cooking alligator with turtle. Sunny days, warm water temperatures, still water conditions and excess nutrients all contribute to blue-green algae blooms, environmentalists said. 2. use plenty of salt and pepper to season the meat as needed. This is the meat that is most equivalent to chicken, mainly because its the most tender part of the gator and mildest in flavor. Alligator Sausage. That's the tenderloin. Add the alligator tails to the egg mixture and toss to coat. However, you will come up with lots of ideas for using the extra sauce (and of course, you can always eat it with a spoon right out of the bowl). If you can, you want to find out how big the gator was. Fry for 1 - 2 minutes or until crisp. Andrews' work has appeared in Food and Wine, Fricote and "BBC Good Food." The alligator should be cut into pieces after boiling. js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; Ive been cooking professionally for about 10 years now, and Ive loved every minute of it! Thread alligator onto skewers. Carve with pressure toward the cutting board, in long strokes the length of the knife. Cows are the top meat producers in the world, accounting for more than 50% of all meat production. His number one tip for cooking alligator tail: Don't cook it too long, he said. Quick and easy way to fix up gator bites for your friends. There are mainly three methods, namely fried, boiled and grilled. This is commonly done in small restaurants. Set next to the lemon sauce. Hello, Louisiana: How do you cook and eat alligator? AliGator meat came on time, fresh and ready to cook whatever way you want. Ground meat recipes would work for the tougher gator parts. After a fifteen-year career as a semi-professional football player, Chef decided to follow his passion for cooking and has never looked back. In large mixing bowl, combine all of the above ingredients with. Soaking alligators in milk is a tradition that dates back to the 1800s. Alligator fillet is quite similar to chicken fillet in taste and appearance. Continue to mix. You want it done.) At French Quarter restaurant Kingfish (337 Chartres St., 504-598-5005; www.kingfishneworleans.com), chef Nathan Richard pulls from his Cajun u. in a rolling motion until the fat content of the pork coats the. This helps break down the collagen in the skin, resulting in a texture thats similar to steak. The answer to this question is a resounding No. You do not have to soak alligator meat prior to cooking it. This will make it easier to get the best flavors of the alligator. See recipe, cuts, tips and tricks, sauce picante for our "In Judy's Kitchen" video, Archbishop Gregory Aymond's position that alligator counts asseafood position, How to wrestle alligator meat into beef, pork, chicken, turtle recipes, 3-course interview: cooking alligator with Chef Nathan Richard, How to butcher an alligator: Kingfish chef demonstrates, 1/4 cup packed chopped mint and Italian parsley leaves, 1 canned chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, minced, 1 tablespoon Heavenly Chef brand chili garlic sauce.