how to cook alligator fillets

You should set aside about half of the mixture to use for basting when the kabobs are on the grill. With a firm belief that anyone can be a great cook and a focus on the mental and emotional aspects of cooking, Chef Champion brings a unique perspective to the kitchen. Ever wondered how alligator steaks are made? Quick view Choose Options. If you're new to gator, don't be intimidated it tastes like chicken! Instructions. 3. Category: dinner. tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoon Cajun seasoning. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. I hope youll check out my blog and my recipes, and I look forward to hearing from you! In our opinion, the texture and taste of the white meat is where its at! These tend to be a better texture and flavor than other cuts. Get your smoker to 250 degrees. Heat a cast-iron grill pan over medium heat. 3. Finally, ensure that your food choices are organic whenever possible. Alligators are gregarious animals and are found in areas with dense vegetation, such as subtropical or tropical rainforests. In particular, you can cook using meat, vegetables, fruit, grains, and more. Second, the alligator meat should be very moist and tender. The smaller, younger alligators produce the most tender alligator meat possible, without any use of preservatives or additives. It is best cooked by grilling. After a fifteen-year career as a semi-professional football player, Chef decided to follow his passion for cooking and has never looked back. This will help you determine whether or not its at its most done. Start by placing the alligator meat in a bowl. Not sure where to buy your meat? Remove the skin as soon as it loosens. Other parts of the alligator are double-tenderized, he explained. When you remove the meat from the refrigerator, there should be a small amount of vinegar left at the bottom of the bowl. Alligator fillet is actually very tender and delicious. The milk helps to break down the food and makes it easier to digest. After its been cooked, the meat is placed into a cold storage area for the meat to cool. In a small bowl, mix together olive oil, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt. Pour oil into a large skillet to a depth of 1 inch, and heat over a medium-high flame. Use a slotted spoon to lift the calamari rings out of the buttermilk. 1 Pat the alligator meat dry. If you have extra kabobs, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 week. The meat of an alligator is high in protein and fat, providing both nutrients and calories for humans. Learn more Alligator meat is a popular dish in the southern part of the United States, and it's fairly easy to cook at home. Alligators are opportunistic predators and will eat almost anything they can find. The alligator fillet is a very lean cut of meat. Pour the brine solution (recipe below) over the gator. The cut determines the cooking method. Spray all sides with Cooking Spray. And you know what that means football parties, Cajun cook-offs, and an infinite supply of good times! Mix the flour, breadcrumbs, and Cajun seasoning. For extra crispy nuggets, dip them back into the buttermilk and then dredge in breadcrumbs again. Heat a 12-inch cast iron skillet over high heat. Just place your alligator fillets in a baking dish and add some chicken stock. 4. ** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Cows are the top meat producers in the world, accounting for more than 50% of all meat production. fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); The meat is quite fatty, which can be a problem when cutting the meat. Coat a large casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. 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). {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/Cook-Alligator-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Cook-Alligator-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/Cook-Alligator-Step-1.jpg\/aid10203372-v4-728px-Cook-Alligator-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Never tried to smoke it but it sounds like someone ruined some good gator. Keep an eye on the temperature of the oil, making sure the oil does not get too hot. Add to a large resealable bag the flour, cornmeal, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. In my mind, you can wrap bacon around just about anything, so why not alligator tail? Place the skewers directly onto grill and grill for 2 minutes per side. For the Alligator. Like some of its more land-dwelling counterparts, alligator meats flavor will be enhanced by the seasoning you slap on it. Bring the liquid to a boil and thicken it with roux or a cornstarch slurry and simmer for about 10 minutes. When it boils down to it, it basically tastes like the chicken of the swamp, hence the white meat reference. A new state-record catch of an alligator gar is now on the books in Alabama. You will have more of the Chili Garlic Mayo than you need for this recipe. Sep 18, 2010. The frying method involves frying the alligator fillet in a mixture of salt, pepper and oil. This requires a bit of work, but the results are worth it. Garfish {catch clean cook} how to fillet a gar fish 0:00 13:57 garfish {catch clean cook} how to fillet a gar fish deermeatfordinner 3.18m subscribers subscribe 1.9m views 4. 1. Turn off the heat and let it sit for as long as you boiled it. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. If you want to make your own dipping sauces for a gourmet meal, you can mix a simply spicy mayo or. At French Quarter restaurant Kingfish (337 Chartres St., 504-598-5005; www.kingfishneworleans.com), chef Nathan Richard pulls from his Cajun u. While you have the meat marinating, go ahead and pour some oil into a large skillet or frying pan. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Watch on. Report abuse. 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. Place the alligator meat into a large bowl and add the granulated garlic, salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 19,580 times. This is commonly done in small restaurants. Amount is based on available nutrient data. Never leave a pan of oil or a grill unattended while you're cooking. (function(d, s, id) { Here are some tips to help you cook them perfectly: Alligator fillets can take anywhere from minutes to hours to cook evenly, depending on their thickness and size. Season it immediately with salt and pepper. The flesh should flake when gently pressed. Repeat the process until all the Alligator is cooked. Nuisance alligator removal permits spike in St. Lucie after 85-year-old woman dies. 5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Exotic Meat. Cover the alligator steaks loosely with aluminum foil and let them rest for at least 10 minutes before you serve them. It's safe to leave the meat in the fridge for up to 2 hours for a bolder flavor. Wipe the buttermilk from the steaks and let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. 4. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Alligator red meat, including the legs and other tougher parts of muscle, are better if braised in a sauce, Pearce said, such as alligator sauce picante or another long-cooked dish. His number one tip for cooking alligator tail: Don't cook it too long, he said. Place the alligator fillets onto a baking sheet and bake for about 20 . Spread across a plate. Prep the coals. Barkemeyer, also known as "Chef Bucks," said his product is 65 percent Louisiana farm-raised alligator tail meat and 35 percent fresh boneless pork butt. That's the tenderloin. Lay the alligator steaks in the pan, giving each steak at least 1/2 inch of space. This is what stores are for. Weve got you covered, cher! Alligator Tenderloins are a great addition to a traditional gumbo recipe as well! Im Brian Danny Max, a chef and a writer at cookingtom.com. Some in the industry consider this portion of the alligator to be the equivalent of fillet mignon. One day last week he shipped 100 pounds to a woman in Vancouver, Wash., who serves the link on a bun for $8 or $10 with onions. There are mainly three methods, namely fried, boiled and grilled. Try this recipe featuring alligator that has been marinated in cajun seasonings, battered in buttermilk and seasoned flour and then fried until golden. Alligator fillets are a bit of a different beast when compared to fillets of more common fish. The ice will slowly start to remove the skin. Mix it with a tablespoon of white vinegar along with a dash of salt and pepper. Next, layer the gator with bacon covering all parts with bacon except for the head. In a cooking pot add oil and lightly brown the alligator meat. In fact, one of the best ways to cook it is to brine it. Cube the alligator meat and add to the butter mixture, stirring to coat the alligator. The meat should have soaked up the rest of the liquid. This is commonly done in small restaurants. If you've ever wondered how to cook alligator but didn't know where to begin, this is for you. Alligator Sauce Piquante Over Creamy Stone Ground Grits. 2. 1 hr. His company packaged the 1-pound bags of frozen alligator I bought at Rouse's Supermarkets for the video. It's really that simple. Alligator meat can be a delicious and nutritious food, but it can also have a slightly gamey taste. It will be easier to slice this way, and you will be able to remove the meat from the bone in the center of the alligator. Try to put 5-6 pieces of meat and vegetables on every skewer. I've been cooking it for a very long time with just butter, lemon and garlic, baking it at 350 degrees for maybe half an hour, covered. The answer to this question lies in the alligators diet. An entire stick of butter fried in a pan with some garlic is all you need to coat the gator tail in flavoring before you add some salt and pepper and onions, and then take it to the grill for the . All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. 2 pounds alligator meat, cut into bite-size pieces. Now that you have chosen alligator, the next step is to prepare the meat. Andrews' work has appeared in Food and Wine, Fricote and "BBC Good Food." Start with the larger pieces. The alligator "wings" at Kingfish are baked in fat to tenderize them, then drained well, refrigerated and chilled. Unless you grow alligators in your own neck of the swamp, we recommend that you get them the way most people do frozen in filets or pieces. Remove the pan when the steaks reach the desired tenderness. The taste is delicious, and its one of the most expensive dishes in the market. How to Cook Bone-In Pork Strips in the Grilling a Top Sirloin Filet in a Cast How to Sear Tenderloin Steak and Cook A.J. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Boneless Turtle Meat 2 lb bag $69.99. Season the alligatorfillets with salt and pepper before cooking them. Cooking Spray. 2. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. The study looked at data from more than 20,000 people and found that eating meat was significantly healthier than eating any other type of food. Put the alligator back into the flour mixture, and again try to shake off as much extra flour as possible. The alligator should be cut into pieces after boiling. Blackened Alligator. Its also reported that soaking alligator meat in milk makes it more digestible, which makes it easier to absorb nutrients. Meat consumption has increased significantly in the last few decades, and with that, the demand for meat. We find out his secrets for cooking alligator and how to clean it before cooking. Prepare a rack or a plate lined with paper towels to drain the alligator. 5. Thread alligator onto skewers. The answer to this question depends on what youre looking for. Step up your party spread this year with alligator dishes, sure to satisfy the bellies of Cajun Country! 3. It will be easier to handle this way. Grilled alligator is cooked by applying a light coating of oil and grilling on a grill or hot pan. 4. While alligator meat is not as common as chicken or beef, it is a delicious and healthy protein choice. "It's kind of like a grouper cheek, a big piece of meat.". Check the steaks' internal temperature with a meat thermometer to make sure they reach 165 degrees before serving. Add to a large resealable bag the flour, cornmeal, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook fish well. Wipe off the excess marinade and let the alligator steaks sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. The chef compared cooking alligator with turtle. Season the alligator with kosher salt if you didn't use salt or salty ingredients in the marinade. Donald Buckemeyer grills his alligator sausage at an LSU tailgate, Cochon's Fried Alligator with Chili Garlic Sauce (Photo by Chris Granger for Link Restaurant Group). AliGator meat came on time, fresh and ready to cook whatever way you want. There are many different types of cooking techniques. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Another way to tell is to feel the alligator. Lower the heat to medium if the alligator steak measures 1/2 inch thick or less, and lower the heat to medium-low and cover the pan with a lid if it measures 1/2 inch thick or more. Gar Lobster. When ordered, they are fried to a crispy brown, then tossed into a smoked tomato gastrique to coat the exterior. "It's a fully cooked product, but the best way to cook it is on the grill," he said. 2. Growing up in Louisiana, Ace found a passion for southern and creole cooking at a young age, but soon found himself quite successful on the football field. You can also cook using boiling water, a microwave or an infrared oven. Carve with pressure toward the cutting board, in long strokes the length of the knife.