Alligator Meat: a Healthy and Exotic Florida Favorite

Alligator meat is an exotic Florida dish that is eaten and enjoyed by people around the globe. Still, many people have no idea how to cook alligator. Refer to this comprehensive guide for alligator cooking tips.

You can cook alligator in the same way as you would any other lean meat. Because it is mild in flavor, you can substitute alligator meat for most dishes that call for chicken, fish, or veal. Alligator meat is delicious and can be grilled, pan-fried, broiled, or stewed. Do not be fooled by the gruff and tough exterior of the alligator. Alligator meat actually has a very delicate flavor. When you cook alligator, it very easily picks up the flavors of the herbs and spices that you choose to utilize.

Alligator meat is not only highly flavorful; it is also healthier than other meat choices. As stated previously, alligator meat is low in fat; gator meat is also low in cholesterol and high in protein. Alligator meat is said to be healthier than domestic chicken, so eat up whenever the mood strikes.

Alligator meat comes in a variety of cuts. The choicest cut of the gator is the tail, you can find alligator tail in many restaurants in Florida. You can also get gator meat in ribs, nuggets, and wings. Alligator wings you say? The meat in alligator's feet is what is commonly referred to as alligator wings; if you appreciate the taste of frog legs, you will almost certainly enjoy alligator wings.

When cooking alligator, you should know that the lean white meat is firm with a fine, light-grained texture, and a very mild flavor. The darker gator meat has a texture that is akin to pork shoulder, and just like chicken, the dark alligator meat has the strongest flavor.

If you would like to try alligator meat, why not start out with this very simple and easy to follow recipe:

Grilled Gator Kabobs

½ cu of Orange Juice concentrate (preferably Florida orange juice concentrate)

¼ cu of Orange Juice (preferably Florida orange juice)

3 Florida Oranges (sliced - you will use this for garnish/décor)

2 Tblsp of Soy Sauce

1 tiny pinch of Ground Ginger

2 Tblsp of Brown Sugar

1 tsp of Cumin

¼ tsp of Cayenne Pepper (add more if you like it extra hot and spicy)

1 lb of Florida Gator Meat (cut it up into cubes fit to be skewed)

1 cu of Portobello Mushroom Caps

1 cu of Cherry Tomatoes

1 Red Onion (cut up into chunks suited for skewing)

1 can of Pineapple Chunks

Wooden Grilling Skewers

Directions: The first thing you will have to do is soak your wooden grilling skewers in water so that they won't burn, set them aside for later. Next, you will make the spiced orange marinade for your gator kabobs. Grab a bowl and mix together the orange juice, orange juice concentrate, soy sauce, brown sugar, cumin, cayenne pepper, and ground ginger. Save half of the marinade for later as you will need to use this to baste the alligator meat. Add the alligator meat cubes into your spiced orange marinade. If you are running low on time you will marinate the gator meat for at least twenty minutes; however, for optimum results it is best to let the meat marinate for a good two hours.

After the alligator meat is done marinating in the spiced orange marinade, you will need to thread the meat along your pre-soaked wooden grilling skewers. Make sure to add one vegetable/fruit for every piece of gator meat. Turn your grill up high and cook each kabob for approximately ten minutes, make sure to rotate and frequently baste each kabob while they are cooking. Now you're done, enjoy your grilled alligator kabobs!

Remember, alligator meat is a healthy choice for meat eaters, The next time you are in the mood for something completely out of the ordinary, give gator meat a try.