This is a collaborative post.
Christmas is approaching fast, and if you’re expecting to be catering for guests over the holiday period, the question is, how can you get away from the same old staples we turn to every year?
Turkey for Christmas dinner; that’s what everyone is expecting and, of course, it’s the highlight of the traditional Christmas menu. But what about doing something different on the other days? Instead of lamb, pork, beef and, of course, turkey leftovers, why not be adventurous? Give your guests something to remember by serving one of these exotic meats over the festive season.
Venison
Nowadays, venison is widely available in UK supermarkets and butchers, when in season. For a better quality, however, you might wish to consider buying meat online from an organic butcher. With a smoother and firmer texture than beef, it also tends to be less juicy. The taste of venison is often described as ‘earthy’ because it’s influenced by the deer’s diet of grasses, herbs and leaves. It is best cooked in thick steaks to prevent it drying out. It can also be roasted, after marinating, with the fat removed. Try out my venison and red wine sausage rolls for a tasty autumnal treat!
Wild Boar
Considered a delicacy in many parts of Europe, wild boar has a sweet, nutty flavor. Cook it in the same way as pork, but keep in mind that it’s very lean, so it will dry out quickly. Slow cooking is best. Wild boar is the ideal base for stews full of strong, rich flavourings, such as red wine, chilli, mustard, and port, as well as a pungent mix of herbs and spices.
Goat
One of the most widely consumed meats in the world, though not typically part of the UK’s national diet, goat meat is a healthy alternative to chicken and beef. It contains more iron, less saturated fat, fewer calories, and less cholesterol. It tastes a little sweeter than lamb. After a month of over-indulgence it can be a welcome change, and the good news is that you can cook it in a whole variety of ways: stews, curries, minced, baked or grilled.
One of my favourite ways to eat goat is in a goat curry. The best goat curry I’ve ever tasted was at BB’s Crabback restaurant in St. George’s, Grenada.
Kangaroo
Now, if you really want something to get your guests talking, why not try serving some kangaroo steak as a healthy, low-fat alternative to beef? Generally described as having a ‘gamey’ taste, it’s the Marmite of the meat world, as some people love it and others detest it. While it’s very lean, it’s also surprisingly tender. While you’re unlikely to find it stocked in your local supermarket, kangaroo can easily be ordered from any high-quality online butcher.
Crocodile
If your guests enjoyed their kangaroo steaks, why not wow them even more by serving crocodile? With the texture of chicken, and a subtle fishy flavor, the light meat is more tender than the darker cuts, which can be quite chewy. Crocodile benefits from long slow cooking in stews and casseroles, for example, with a spicy mixture of tomatoes, lemon, ginger and onions.
Zebra
Now available from specialist butchers in the UK, zebra is a lean, highly-nutritious and sustainable meat. The taste is hard to describe, but as zebras live on a diet of grass, their meat is slightly sweet and light. The best way to cook it is on a high heat, in thin strips.
Once you’ve chosen your exotic meat, enjoy hunting for fabulous recipes online, be ready to experiment, and enjoy offering your guests a menu with an unforgettable wow factor.
Have you ever cooked exotic meat? What meat did you use and what dish did you make with it? Comment below to share your thoughts.
This is a collaborative post.