Marianne Martinez
Cooking squirrel in a crock pot is a great way to prepare a tasty, rich meal. While it may not be everyone's first choice, squirrel meat is common in some parts of the world and can be cooked in various ways, including frying, boiling, and baking. One popular method is to use a slow cooker or crock pot, which allows the meat to cook slowly and become tender, falling off the bone. This text will explore different ways to cook squirrel in a crock pot, including recipes for squirrel stew, squirrel with vegetables, and more.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of pot | Crock pot/slow cooker |
| Number of squirrels | 2-4 |
| Additional ingredients | Water, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, chicken bouillon, salt, pepper, olive oil, mushroom soup, french onion soup, chicken broth, butter, flour |
| Cooking time | 3-8 hours |
| Temperature | High/Middle heat, 350F |
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What You'll Learn
Soaking squirrel meat in saltwater
It is important to note that the ratio of salt to water and the soaking time can be adjusted based on personal preference and the desired level of saltiness in the meat. Soaking the meat for an extended period, such as overnight or up to three days, can help eliminate the gamey taste. However, it is crucial to keep the meat refrigerated during this time to prevent bacterial growth.
After soaking, the meat should be recleaned and prepared for cooking. Some people choose to pat the meat dry and then season it with additional spices or herbs before placing it in the crockpot. Others might opt for a simple preparation, coating the squirrel pieces with olive oil, layering them with thickly cut onions, and adding potatoes before placing them in an oven.
While some recipes call for saltwater soaking, others suggest using regular water or even beer for the soaking process. Some people also recommend a two-step soaking process, first soaking the meat in saltwater for 24 hours and then transferring it to buttermilk for another 12 to 24 hours before seasoning and frying. This combination of saltwater and buttermilk can further enhance the tenderness and flavour of the meat.
In summary, soaking squirrel meat in saltwater is a technique used to remove blood, improve tenderness, and prevent the gamey flavour associated with wild game. The amount of salt, water, and soaking time can vary, and personal preference plays a significant role in the final recipe. Remember to handle the meat safely and keep it refrigerated during the soaking process to ensure food safety.
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Cooking squirrel with vegetables
To cook squirrel with vegetables in a crock pot, you'll first want to prepare the squirrel meat. Soak the squirrel in saltwater overnight to get rid of any gamey flavour and make the meat more tender. Then, remove the hide, feet, head, and tail. Make an incision from the bottom of the rib cage toward the back legs and remove all the internal organs.
Once the squirrel is prepared, you can begin cooking. Place the squirrel in a crock pot and add vegetables such as potatoes, onions, carrots, celery, and bell peppers. You can also add seasonings like garlic, chicken bouillon, salt, and pepper. Pour in enough water to cover the ingredients completely.
Cover the crock pot and cook on high for 6 hours. After 6 hours, stir in some flour until it's fully incorporated, then continue cooking for an additional 2 hours.
You can also add other ingredients to enhance the flavour. Some people like to add a can of French onion soup or cream of mushroom soup instead of water. Others might add a stick of butter or some chicken broth.
Cook until the meat is tender and falls off the bone. Then, remove the meat from the bones and add it back to the crock pot with the vegetables. Stir everything together and serve.
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Using mushroom soup
Cooking squirrel in a crock pot with mushroom soup is a great way to prepare this type of meat. It is a simple, yet effective method that will leave you with tender, fall-off-the-bone meat. Firstly, you will need to prepare your squirrel carcasses, and it is recommended to clean them and cut them into pieces. You can also brine the meat or marinate it in a mixture of lemon, garlic, salt and pepper to add flavour and tenderise the meat.
Once your meat is prepared, take a crock pot and add half a chopped onion to the bottom, seasoning with salt and pepper. You can also add other vegetables such as celery, carrots and potatoes. Then, place your squirrel meat on top of the vegetables and season with your chosen spices and a dry rub. Next, add a can of cream of mushroom soup and 3-4 cans of water. It is important to ensure that the squirrel is covered by liquid, so add more water if needed.
Cover the crock pot and cook on high for 4-6 hours, or until the meat is tender. You can check this with a fork. The meat should be fall-off-the-bone tender. Once cooked, you can serve the squirrel with the vegetables and gravy.
Some people also like to prepare squirrel meat in a similar way to chicken wings, coating the pieces in flour and deep-frying them. This creates a crispy texture.
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Adding dumplings
There are a few ways to cook squirrel in a crock pot, but a common method is to add 2-4 squirrels, a can of soup (french onion or mushroom), and enough water to cover the squirrels. The squirrels can be cooked for 3-4 hours, and then vegetables such as potatoes, celery, and carrots can be added and cooked until tender.
To add dumplings to this recipe, you can make them from scratch or use pre-made biscuit dough. Here is a recipe for making dumplings from scratch:
Ingredients:
- Dry ingredients (e.g., flour)
- Butter
- Milk
Instructions:
- Whisk the dry ingredients together.
- Cut in the butter until it forms small pea-sized bits in the dry mixture.
- Add the milk and mix well.
- Drop the dumpling mixture by large, golf ball-sized spoonfuls onto the top of the squirrel stew in the crockpot.
- Seal the crockpot with tinfoil and the lid.
- Steam the dumplings for about 30 minutes.
If using pre-made biscuit dough, add the shredded biscuit dough about 30 minutes before serving and let it cook in the stew until it's no longer raw.
Note that the dumplings are best fresh, so this dish is best served the same day. However, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3- 5 days.
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Basting with barbecue sauce
First, prepare your barbecue sauce. You can make your own by combining ingredients like ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and various spices. Alternatively, you can use a store-bought barbecue sauce and customise it with additional ingredients like garlic and sesame oil.
Next, you'll want to get your squirrel meat ready. If you're using frozen squirrel, make sure it's fully defrosted before cooking. You can also soak the squirrel in saltwater overnight to tenderise the meat and reduce any gamey flavour. Once the meat is prepared, coat it generously with olive oil and your chosen rub or seasoning.
Now it's time to start cooking. Place your seasoned squirrel into the crock pot and add enough water to cover the meat. You can also add other ingredients like onions, carrots, and potatoes to create a heartier dish. Set your crock pot to a medium or high setting and let the meat cook for several hours until it's tender and falls off the bone.
Finally, it's time for the basting. Once the squirrel is cooked to your desired level of doneness, generously brush on the barbecue sauce. You can also add some of the sauce directly to the crock pot to create a richer, more flavourful dish. Continue cooking the squirrel for an additional 30-60 minutes, periodically brushing on more sauce until you've achieved a mouth-watering, sticky glaze.
And that's it! You now have a delicious, barbecue-glazed squirrel dish that's sure to impress. Serve it with your favourite sides and enjoy the fruits of your labour.
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Frequently asked questions
Cooking times vary depending on the recipe and the number of squirrels being cooked. Some recipes suggest cooking for 3-4 hours, while others suggest 6-8 hours on a high setting.
Suggested ingredients include potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, chicken bouillon, salt, pepper, mushroom soup, french onion soup, and water.
It is recommended to soak the squirrel in saltwater overnight to get rid of the gamey flavor and make the meat tender. Some recipes also suggest coating the squirrel with olive oil and a rub of your choice before baking it in the oven for 30 minutes.
