The first of my caribou recipes produces a savory and hearty stew. Add beef broth to your liking. Less for a thicker stew and more to be more of a soup. The dumplings make the dish. Nothing like a little boo for dinner. Enjoy...
Heat oil in a heavy skillet. Toss the meat with flour, and carefully add to the skillet with the onion. Season with the garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Brown on all sides of the meat well and make sure the onion is translucent.
De-glaze the pan with the red wine, and add the worcestershire sauce and balsamic vinegar. Add the beef broth; simmer for an hour.
Now add the potatoes, celery and carrots; simmering for 15 minutes. During the last 15 minutes of cooking, add the dumpling dough to the stew. (recipe follows)
Never Fail Dumplings
INGREDIENTS
1-1/2 cups flour 1 tsp baking powder pinch of salt 1 egg 3/4 cup milk 3 TBS fresh rosemary, chopped
DIRECTIONS
Sift the dry ingredients. Add the egg and milk. Stir and drop by spoonfuls into stew. Keep covered for 5 minutes, then uncover and boil several minutes longer. Serve immediately.
My next caribou recipe is a family favorite.
CARIBOU CASSEROLE
INGREDIENTS
2 TBS butter or oil 1 lb ground caribou meat 1 medium onion, chopped 1 tsp homemade garlic powder 1 tsp homemade onion powder 2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup 1 cup frozen peas or french-style green beans 1 (16oz) pkg tater tots 1-1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded (optional)
DIRECTIONS
PREHEAT oven to 375 degrees. Spray a casserole dish with vegetable oil; set aside.
Heat a heavy skillet and add the butter. Add the ground meat and onion; season with garlic and onion powder. Drain and place in the bottom of the prepared casserole dish.
Sprinkle the peas over the cooked meat and spread the condensed soup on top evenly. Arrange tater tots over the soup and bake for 35 minutes, covered. Uncover and bake for another 20 minutes.
CARIBOU HOT DISH
INGREDIENTS
1 lb ground caribou meat 1 pkg (1-1/4oz) homemade taco seasoning 1/4 tsp homemade cayenne pepper (optional) 1 (15oz) can tomato paste 1 small onion, chopped 3/4 cup beef broth (water is okay) 1 (8oz) pkg shell macaroni, cooked and drained 4 oz can chopped green chilies 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded (divided) green onion, chopped for garnish
DIRECTIONS
PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees and grease a 1-1/2 quart casserole dish.
Brown meat and onion over medium heat. Drain and add the beef broth, taco seasoning and tomato paste. Mix well and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Add macaroni, chilies and 1-1/2 cups cheese.
Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake for 30 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted. Top each serving with chopped green onion.
12 large cabbage leaves 1 lb ground elk 1 lb sweet Italian sausage
1 small can tomato paste, divided 1 tsp Better Than Bouillon beef base 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup warm cooked rice mixed with 1 TBS butter 1 egg 1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper 1/2 tsp dried sweet basil (Sam's Club has it) 1 tsp homemade garlic powder 1 tsp homemade onion powder 1 TBS paprika 2 TBS onion, grated 2 TBS celery, diced 1/4 cup carrots, shredded
Sauce 2 cups tomatoes, crushed remaining half of tomato paste 1 cup water 1 tsp Better Than Bouillon beef base 1-1/2 TBS brown sugar cayenne pepper, to taste (optional) remaining cabbage leaves to cover rolls
Directions
PREHEAT oven to 325 degrees. Spray a roasting pan or large baking dish (9x13) with vegetable spray; set aside.
Cut 12 large leaves off of cabbage head, and place in boiling water, let stand until leaves are limp; approximately 3 minutes.
Measure out 1/2 cup of hot cabbage water and add the Better Than Bouillon beef base. Mix well until dissolved.
Meanwhile, add the above mixture with the the elk, sausage, 1/2 of the tomato paste, rice, egg, seasonings and vegetables together in a large bowl, mixing to combine.
Put 1-4 tablespoons (depending on size of leaf) of meat mixture in center of each leaf; tuck in sides and roll to cover meat; placing seam side down in prepared pan. (I roll any leftover filling into meatballs and cook them with the cabbage rolls.)
Mix the sauce ingredients together in a saucepan and heat through so the sugar and beef base is dissolved. Pour over the rolls and meatballs. Cover with the remaining cabbage leaves (so the rolls do not dry out).
Bake for 1 hour 45 minutes. Discard the top cabbage leaves, and stand back - they will knock you down to get to these cabbage rolls
They work great for other meat like elk, moose and beef.
NOTE: You can use any fresh fish fillets for this recipe like walleye, crappie, perch, bluegill, cod, etc.
FRESH FISH TACOS
crappie (or blue gill) fillets 2 TBS canola oil for frying 2 TBS butter, for frying 1/2 tsp homemade chili powder 1 TBS honey kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 fresh lime soft taco shells cabbage slaw, recipe below
In a skillet over medium-high heat, heat the canola oil and butter for frying.
Meanwhile, dust the clean fillets with chili powder, kosher salt and then drizzle the lime juice and honey over them. Fry for 2-3 minutes, flip over and fry another 2-3 minutes. The crappie is done when it is opaque and flakes easily.
Heat the taco shells in a pan until it bubbles; flip and repeat.
5 cups green, red or mixed cabbage, finely chopped 1/2 cup homemade sour cream 1/2 cup homemade yogurt 2 TBS fresh lemon or lime juice 1/2 tsp cumin powder 1/2 tsp dill weed kosher salt to taste freshly ground black pepper to taste 3 green onions, sliced thinly 1 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
Combine sour cream, yogurt, lime juice, cumin powder, dill weed, scallions, jalapeno, salt and pepper. Mix well. Reserve 1/2 of the mixture to top the tacos. Mix the other half with the cabbage.
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
I want to give you some examples of what is in the products you are eating from the grocery store.
David Zinczenko from "Eat This Not That" has posted some information that you really need to see.