Squirrel Stew

Okay, so if you're anti-hunting, or sensitive about animals, this might not be the post for you. Just sayin'. Today is a special day, since you get two posts today ;)

Over the summer, my friend Daniel walked into our class and said, "Hey Allie. How do you cook squirrel?" And there it started. A friend of his was moving and didn't want to move all the meat in her freezer. In this batch of meat is what he thought was 2 squirrels but which we now know was actually 4 of them. We had some discussion on the various techniques for cooking squirrel meat (I did actually have to research this, since it's not a game meat I'd eaten before), and then I forgot all about it. Until a week or so ago. For the final project in one of our classes, we were also having a potluck. Squirrel stew was brought up, and we went for it.

Daniel came over and we made the stew. It made significantly more than either of us expected, actually filling the 6-quart crock pot. The broth we made is one of the better ones I've ever seen come out of my kitchen. And by the way, did you know squirrel tastes like turkey? Really, really good turkey? I didn't. Here's how we made the stew. I'm sure this recipe won't actually help anyone who reads this blog, but I hope you enjoy reading it!

Broth:

1/2 teaspoon each: dill seed, allspice, peppercorns, juniper berries
1 tablespoon each: salt, sage
2 each: cloves, bay leaves, carrots broken in half, celery broken in half
5 each: dried shallot slices, dried shitake mushrooms
1 each: dried galangal slice, star anise, onion cut into quarters, dried chile arbol
3 omani (dried limes)
4 squirrels
water

Combine all the ingredients in a large pot or dutch oven (I used the 7-quart Le Creuset dutch oven) and bring to a boil. Boil for about 2 hours, or until the squirrel is falling off the bone, replenishing water as needed. Remove squirrels to a cutting board. Remove large pieces of everything else, then strain the broth into a large crock pot.

Stew:

2 bay leaves
1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
2 large onions, chopped
2 large russet potatoes, chopped
1/2 cup dried porcini mushrooms
1/2 cup truffle vodka
1/8 cup rosemary vinegar
2 celery hearts, chopped
1 pound carrots, chopped
1 tablespoon salt
broth from above
squirrel meat from 4 squirrels

Debone the squirrel and put all the meat into the crockpot with the broth. Add all the other ingredients and cover. Cook in the crockpot overnight. Makes 6 quarts.

Comments

  1. Alyse11:24 AM

    Love squirrel.

    Very good with milk gravy, mashed potatoes, and biscuits. I'm a Kentucky girl, haha.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Allie5:04 PM

    Alyse,

    I too love squirrel, it turns out. Sounds great to do w/ gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits!

    ReplyDelete

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