How to Handle Alligator Meat
Alligator meat has a very mild taste and readily adapts to recipes to veal, chicken and most seafoods. Choice cuts of meat, primarily the tail and jaw, can be used in any recipe. The body and leg meat, with just a little extra preparation and special recipes, can be just as tasty. I recommend cubing the meat for extra tenderness or pounding fillets with a meat mallet.
Regardless of what cut of alligator meat you are using, all fat and sinew must be removed before freezing or preparing. Even the yellowish fat between the layers should be removed. When using leg or body meat, we recommend removing the white tendons and vessels as well.
Alligator meat has been successfully frozen for over a year. This was done by removing all fat, wrapping well in cellophane and then again in freezer paper. Alligator meat can be tenderized in several different ways. Some restaurants run each piece of meat through a cubing machine. Other restauranteurs recommend pounding each peice of alligator with a meat mallet until thin, usually about one inch. All restaurants recommend cutting alligator meat across the grain for a more tender piece of meat.
Body and leg meat cuts are excellent choices for burgers, casseroles, ground meat, soups and stews. Jaw and tail meat work well for baked, cutlet recipes and fried foods.
Regardless of which cut of meat you use, you will find alligator to be a very delicious and versatile meat. It is also low in fat, making it a great item for the calorie conscious person.
Meat cut types
G* - top of neck, cube or use mallet
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Tail - cut across the base of the tail just behind hind legs
Leg - sever the joints where legs attach to body
Jaw - meat from jaw muscles
Torso - remaining meat from the back and ribs
Appearance of meat cuts
Tail - light pink to white with internal bands of hard white fat that appear circular in cross sections and run lengthwise near the tailbone
Leg - darker in color with small fat deposits along tendons
Torso - similar to meat from tail but without fat bands
Recipes
Alligator Balls
1 lb chopped alligator meat
1 egg
1 Tbsp finely chopped onions
2 Tbsps. finely chopped celery
1 Tbsp finely chopped parsley
2 Tbsps finely chopped shallots
2 Tbsps lemon pepper
1/2 Tsp salt
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
1 cup cooking oil Flour to dredge
Combine all ingredients, form into 1-inch balls. Allow to set for one hour. Dredge with flour and fry until brown. Serve hot.
Baked Alligator
6 alligator fillets
lemon juice
lemon slices
garlic powder
butter
chopped parsley
salt and pepper to taste
Arrange alligator fillets in an ovenware dish large enough to place in a single layer, sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic. Squeeze lemon juice over fillets. Cut a generous amount of butter into squares and place over the fillets. Arrange lemon slices over the fillets and then sprinkle generously with parsley. Bake in a 375 F oven until fillets are cooked. Serve with french bread.
Grilled Gator
2 lbs alligator fillets
1 Tbs. onion powder
1 Tbs. garlic salt
1 Tsp. butter for each fillet
Season fillets with onion and garlic. Place in an aluminum pan ( or wrap and seal in aluminum foil ) on grill. Dot each fillet with butter. Turn over half way through cooking. Cook over medium grill for 15 to 20 mins.
Burgers
5 lbs alligator meat, ground
2 onions minced
3 potatos diced small
3 bread slices diced small
Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder Mix all ingredients and form into patties. Pan fry until golden brown.
Alligator Broulettes
2 lbs alligator
2 egg yolks
1/2 bell pepper oil
2 stalks celery
salt and pepper to taste
milk
3 sllices of bread
2 onions
1 cup water
Grind together with the alligator, onions, celery, and bell pepper. Soak bread in milk and press out. Add to ground mixture. Add egg yolks and season to taste. Spoon into hot oil and brown. Remove and in another pot add the water and bring to a boil. Put in the broulettes in the water and steam on low heat for 35 minutes with a cover on.
Beer Fried Alligator
1 lb alligator
flour
Trim meat and cut into finger sized pieces. Soak pieces in beer overnight. Drain. Deep fat fry until golden brown.
Alligator Spaghetti
3 lbs alligator meat
3-6 oz cans of tomato paste
4 Tsps salt
1 cup minced bell pepper
3/4 cup chopped parsley
2 cups minced onion
1/2 cup worchestershire sauce
1 lb mushroom stems and pieces
3 cans (2 lbs, 3 oz each) tomatoes
4 Tsps oregano
3 cloves minced garlic
2 Tbsps sweet basil
1/2 lb sliced bacon, diced
1-1/2 cups water
1/4 tsp tabasco
In a 4-6 quart pot, fry the bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon and all but 3 tbsp bacon grease. Add alligator meat which has been cut into 1 inch cubes and brown. (If using smoked alligator meat, omit this stage) Remove meat when brown and set aside. Sauté onions, drained mushrooms, bell pepper and garlic for 10 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, water, worcestershire sauce, parsley, basil, oregano, salt and tabasco. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 3 hours or longer. Add reserved alligator meat and simmer until meat is tender. Serve over spaghetti with parmesan cheese. Sauce yield is approximately 5 quarts.
Alligator and Scallops
4 alligator steaks - 1 inch thick
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
Trim all fat from steaks. Cut and pound steaks until 1" thin. Beat egg and add milk. Dip each piece into egg mixture. In a skillet, heat butter. Saute steaks on each side 2 to 4 minutes. Serve 'scallop sauce' over alligator steaks.
Soup Du Crocodile
2 lbs alligator meat, cubed
2 tbsps oil
1 cup roux
1 cup onion, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
2/3 cup bell pepper, chopped
1 lb can whole tomatoes in juice
1 lemon sliced across
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp red pepper
1 tsp black pepper
2- inch cut basil sprigs
2 quarts water
4 tbsps parsley
Heat oil. Add roux, tomatoes and juice, onion, celery, bell peppers, lemon, seasonings and herbs. Stir well. Add water. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 2-1/2 hours or until meat is tender. Add parsley and simmer a few minutes more. Add dry sherry if desired when serving.
