Favorite Recipes When Working with Mountain Caribou Meat
After a successful Mountain Caribou hunt in British Columbia, you will have plenty of meat to take home. Caribou is known for having a very mild and pleasant flavor. The meat does not carry as much of the “gamey” taste common in other ungulates, although to be fair any big game animal can come without this taste when properly processed and prepared. That said, mountain caribou meat is naturally tender and delicious. Here are a few ways to make the most of your meat.
Grill the Prime Cuts
Prime cuts have plenty of options for recipes but it’s hard to go wrong with a good steak. Backstrap and tenderloins are especially delicious on the barbecue or pan fried in a cast iron skillet. Use butter and simple seasonings like salt and pepper. It doesn’t take much because the meat is tender and flavorful by itself. There is a golden rule however; don’t overcook your steaks. Medium rare or rare is ideal for the tender cuts. Caribou have little fat and the meat will be juicy and perfect when not overcooked. Try adding local ingredients like berries for sauces and dressing over the final steaks. Berries add a little sweet flavor and go great with steaks.
Slow Cooker Recipes
It’s just too easy to make delicious meals in a slow cooker and caribou is great for stews, chilli and other one pot style meals. The set it and forget it nature of slow cookers is ideal for prepping dinner in the morning and having a great meal waiting when you get home from work. Try stews with chunks of carrot, potato, onion and spices or get creative and cook up goulash and other traditional dishes. You can even slow cook ribs and meat still on the bone.
Burger, Sausage and Jerky
Every big game animal has plenty of odd cuts that make the grind pile. Create burgers and sausages with your own custom spices and use some of the nice hind quarter meat for jerky. If you really want to experiment, cured meats like pastrami and salami work really well with big game animals and mountain caribou are no exception.
Wash it all down with a Caribou Cocktail
The French Canadian caribou cocktail has nothing to do with the animal itself but it’s not a bad drink to have with your meal. You will find a few versions of this drink and they are all designed to warm you up with a kick. Combine 4 cups of red wine with a cup of Canadian whiskey or brandy. Add several tablespoons of maple syrup and a cinnamon stick. Warm over medium heat and serve when everything is blended.
Written by Zach Lazzari
Zach is an outdoor writer, a hunting and fly fishing guide, and very proud to be a part of the Kawdy Outfitters team.