Or you can put it in a Crock Pot with red gravy.". The ribs, nuggets and wings are a darker meat with a stronger flavor and a texture similar to pork. Then I pan sear each side of the marinated alligator fillets for three minutes per side. Gotta agree 110% with the EMAN on this one - aligator sauce piquant is one of my favorites! Add to a large resealable bag the flour, cornmeal, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Florida-based YouTube starsRobert Arrington and his wife Sarah will teach you how to properly prepare, grill and fry an alligator tail. if (d.getElementById(id)) return; But the most important thing to remember is that all the techniques you can use to cook are basically the same. Season the alligator with salt, pepper, and your favorite spices. Avoid overloading your kabobs. If using a pan or skillet, cover it with a piece of foil a few inches larger and place the lid or a lid close to its size on top of the foil. It's available in a variety of cuts including tail fillets, ribs, nuggets and wings. Add alligator cubes; stir to coat well. Dip the floured alligator in buttermilk and remove with a slotted spoon, allowing as much buttermilk as possible to drip off. "The effect is a smoky taste outside and inside is true alligator," Sonnier said. 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. 4. Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2021. I hope youll check out my blog and my recipes, and I look forward to hearing from you! Some people believe that the meat from animals such as cows, pigs, and chickens is the unhealthiest because of their high levels of cholesterol and saturated fat, respectively. Fry the alligator for 3 minutes or until all of the pieces are floating in the oil.The meat will cook quickly in the hot oil, so keep your eye on the pan. (function(d, s, id) { Heat the barbecue to high hotness and barbecue kabobs for 6 to 8 minutes, turning once. The process requires that the meat be immersed in boiling hot water for at least two minutes. Meat is the number 1 healthiest meat in the world, according to a study published in The Journal of Nutrition. Another way to tell is to cut into the alligator and look at the inside. Keep an eye on the temperature of the oil, making sure the oil does not get too hot. That said, there are a few things you can do to make sure your alligator meat turns out delicious. First, be sure to season your alligator meat well before cooking it. This will give them a nice and zesty flavor. Sear the alligator on both sides until golden brown, just like a regular steak. Alligator sausage can be prepared by making a kind of cured sausage that combines alligator and pork. Quick view. 2. However, the tradition has continued, and many people in the southern United States still soak alligators in milk. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. 2023 Acadia Crawfish. Curious? Heat a few tablespoons of oil or a combination of oil and butter in a heavy-bottomed pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. 11. 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. Heat the grill to high heat and grill kabobs for 6 . When cooking alligator, you should consider using a grill pan or grill rack, but dont use a direct flame. Like some of its more land-dwelling counterparts, alligator meats flavor will be enhanced by the seasoning you slap on it. "It's a fully cooked product, but the best way to cook it is on the grill," he said. How do you know when alligator is done cooking. Out of stock. To each his own! 2) Use an oven thermometer. Another way to tenderize alligator meat is to use a meat tenderizer. There are various cooking methods that you can use to cook alligator. Shake to coat. Second, the alligator meat should be very moist and tender. Season the alligator with kosher salt if you didn't use salt or salty ingredients in the marinade. Grill the alligator for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Prep Time: 5 minutes. Now cut your meat in to generous cube chunks and drop them in to the mixture making sure they receive a good coating. If it was longer than five feet, the meat will be tough. Turn the heat off and pour enough stock in the pan to almost cover the steaks. This will help ensure that they will cook evenly and not get too tough or dry. The fish weighed an astonishing 162 pounds! To grill alligator fillet, first remove any skin or bones. Good. Repeat with remaining meat. There are many different types of cooking techniques. Remove meat, shake off excess flour, and set on a plate. js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; Directions. Use a slotted spoon to lift the calamari rings out of the buttermilk. Remove meat, shake off excess flour, and set on a plate. Add the Breading/Batter Mix to a shallow bowl. So delicious! An ideal way to prepare alligator is to boil it. Squeeze off excess liquid from meat, and add one handful of meat to the resealable bag. 1. Photo: Flickr/ Valerie Hinojosa. Then add into the buttermilk mixture and shake off. "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.". 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. Once the meat is cooked, remove it from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside on a plate. Coat the alligator fillets in flour cornmeal or another type of breading. Cooking the belly is a process that has been used for years to tenderize tough cuts of meat. The answer to this question lies in the alligators diet. 3. There are several types of tenderizers available, including those that are made of natural enzymes, acids, or chemicals. Its important to cook alligator fillet at a low temperature, to avoid overcooking the meat and drying it out. Read More . It is the most delicate part of the meat from the animal. The alligator tail tastes very mild. In 2013, I wrote about Archbishop Gregory Aymond's position that alligator counts asseafood position during Lent. This will help ensure that they will cook evenly and not get too tough or dry. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce. Hold the skin back with your non-dominant hand. It's not mixed with something else.". Ive been cooking professionally for about 10 years now, and Ive loved every minute of it! Alligators are a common sight in the southern United States, and many people may wonder why they are often seen soaking in milk. Today, milk processors have made it easier to process milk, so there is no need to soak alligators in milk. Transfer the alligator to a plate lined with paper towels. Remove the skin as soon as it loosens. Once the gumbo is done simmering, we add the meat back in. The cut determines the cooking method. Unlike beef, though, which you can generally categorize as tender or tough, alligator meat has two levels of tenderness: tough and tougher. Although a grilling tray is preferable, a cookie sheet works too. Boneless Turtle Meat 5 lb bag . After its been cooked, the meat is placed into a cold storage area for the meat to cool. 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. 2. These alligator fillets are so easy to make, youll be surprised. js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; The rest of the alligator can then be removed from the bone. Add the alligator tails to the bowl and toss to coat. // Leaf Group Lifestyle, How to Cook Worcestershire Marinated New York Steak. Of course, you can also cook using different food types. 2. Catfish is low in calories is filled with many healthy nutrients such as omega-3 . And man, do them Cajuns eat it up, cher! Heat a few tablespoons of oil or oil and butter in a Dutch oven or an oven-safe skillet or pan. Mix it with a tablespoon of white vinegar along with a dash of salt and pepper. Cover and allow marinating for at least 10 minutes at room temperature. All Rights Reserved. Season the alligator fillets with salt pepper and other spices of your choice. And of course, it always tastes great pan-seared or fried to a golden crisp! Donald Barkemeyer's alligator sausage, brand name Louisiana Cajun Grill Sausage, $6.99 a pound, is sold inWinn-Dixie stores in the New Orleans region and Gulf South. Place the alligator fillets onto a baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes or until they reach an evenly golden color. Once hot, add coated alligator filets and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown. boneless alligator, fresh or frozen. Mm-mm! Spray all sides with Cooking Spray. 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. You have permission to edit this article. 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). 1. If you want to batter all of the pieces before you fry them, place the dipped pieces on a plate while you finish battering the rest of them. Heat the oil in a medium size saucepot and heat to 375F. Cochon's James Beard Award-winning chef, Stephen Stryjewski, shared the recipe for one of the restaurant's most popular appetizers. Why not? Then back into the flour and shake off. Season to taste with the sugar, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Remove the filets from the air fryer, tent with foil and let rest for 10 minutes before serving. In particular, you can cook using meat, vegetables, fruit, grains, and more. You can also cook alligator steaks on the grill. Put the alligator back into the flour mixture, and again try to shake off as much extra flour as possible. packs of alligator tail meat tenderized and ready to go! 4 cups alligator meat, cut into small bite-size pieces; 1/2 cup oil; 1 large onion, chopped; 1/2 cup green onions, chopped; 1 large bell pepper, chopped; 2 Tbs. Ovens vary in their temperature, so be sure to measure the temperature of your alligator before putting it in the oven. So, if you want to cook alligator fillet for dinner, you can try my recipe. One way to tell is to look at the color of the alligator. Next, toss the alligator pieces with olive oil and seasoning, then set aside at room temperature for 40 minutes. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit before cooking the alligator fillets. Alligator meat is a common dish in the southern United States, but it can be tough and chewy if not cooked properly. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. It can be cooked by different techniques including grilling, deep frying or baking. ", At the restaurant, Sonnier cooks Louisiana alligator bone-in legs, brand name Country Boy Gator, labeled a Certified Cajun product and subtitled "Cajun Swamp Chicken.". Florida Alligator Meat is not only delicious but is low in fat and cholesterol and a wonderful source of protein. Remove alligator filets from the skillet and transfer to a baking dish. Add spices and herbs to stock, if desired. Soaking alligators in milk is a tradition that dates back to the 1800s. You can order gator meat online. The tenderloin is the part of alligator that people compare to chicken. You can also use a wide array of acids, such as Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice or any vinegar, with an oil-based marinade. If you cant afford the tenderloin, this cut is your next best bet. What Temperature Should You Cook Chicken? The hot oil can splash out of the pan and cause serious burns.