There are a few things to keep in mind, especially when it comes to game. Game is rare, and especially prime cuts should be handled with care. This not only saves money but also ensures successful preparation. We've put together a comprehensive guide for you on how to best prepare wild boar, or game meat in general.
How to prepare game and wild boar properly
Venison has a dark red color. When fresh, it smells slightly nutty. If it has a black or brownish tinge and a sweet smell, it's spoiled. Beginners to venison or wild boar should choose the fillet or back fillet . It's lean, high in protein, and therefore very healthy. It's prepared by searing and slowly cooking. Marinades or buttermilk can be used for pickling to make it more tender.
Game meat - characteristics and uses
You have to consider this
Game meat is generally darker than beef , for example. The meat also has a dark red color. Venison is also lean and comes from deer, stag, hare, or wild boar. There are also game birds, including quail , ducks , and pheasants. These animals are hunted by hunters. Game is in season in winter and fall.
When buying game , you should pay attention to freshness. Therefore, always buy your game from a butcher. This also makes it easier to verify its origin. Butchers usually purchase game from hunters. They also cut it up themselves. Fresh game should be as firm as possible. Furthermore, it shouldn't have a black or brownish tinge. Freshness can also be determined by its smell. The meat will have a slightly nutty and aromatic aroma. If it smells sweet, it's spoiled.
Game is healthy and nutritious
Eating game meat is generally healthy. Its low-fat texture makes it easy to digest. It's also rich in protein and contains important omega-3 fatty acids. This makes it a good alternative to other types of meat . This is because the animals are raised in the wild, and their natural diet and exercise affect the structure of the game meat . The muscles are therefore very well developed and have little fat. Furthermore, it is drug-free and therefore not harmful. Game meat can therefore have a very positive nutritional effect.
Game - a delicacy
Game can be prepared in a variety of ways. Classic variations include goulash, steaks, or the traditional roast. The different cuts of the animal are crucial. For example, the shoulder of venison and deer is used for goulash , the leg for roasting, and the back is used for both fillet and loin . These two prime cuts are used for preparing steaks.
Wild boar, for example, can be prepared in a similar way to pork . Wild boar cuts can also be used to make goulash , roasts , or steaks . Feel free to use the same approach to preparing pork as a guide. We have some videos on this topic on our YouTube channel .
However, the flavor of wild boar is more intense than that of pork, so you should also use other spices. Juniper, thyme, and bay leaves are good choices. You can also use our own spice blend, Burger Seasoning . This goes well with all meat dishes and gives them an extra kick.
How to cook wild boar properly - a recipe
How to make wild boar taste tender - a tip from a professional
If you want your wild boar tender and juicy, the choice of cut is crucial. We recommend the fillet or loin . These are ideal for simple and uncomplicated preparation. It's important to bring the meat to room temperature before cooking.
If your meat is vacuum-frozen, let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator. If you buy the meat fresh, make sure it's not left out of the refrigerator for too long. Meat generally needs to be kept cool, otherwise bacteria can spread on your venison , putting it at risk of spoilage.
Once you have your meat , make sure there are no bones or silver skin on your steak. If you're grilling the meat , set up a direct and indirect cooking zone. If you're using a pan instead, preheat the oven. We also have tutorials for this on our YouTube channel .
The preparation
To prepare a wild boar fillet, you'll need 150 to 180 grams of meat per person. First, remove the silver skin from the steak and trim it slightly. Then, sear it on all sides in a little olive oil for about two minutes. Crush the hazelnuts with a mortar and pestle. Prepare enough bacon slices to wrap your steak. Brush the bacon with honey and add your ground hazelnuts to the bacon and steak . Finally, wrap your fillet with the bacon .
Now place the steak on the indirect cooking surface of your grill or in the oven. Continue cooking at approximately 220 to 230 degrees Celsius for about 15 minutes. The venison is ready once it has reached an internal temperature of 60 to 62 degrees Celsius. Let your fillet rest for a few minutes before carving it with a sharp knife . This stabilizes the meat juices. Season with a little salt and serve your tender, juicy steak . There's also a video for this recipe here .
The right marinade for game: buttermilk or marinate?
To make your venison even more tender, you can marinate it . You can use either buttermilk or an oil-based marinade. While buttermilk tenderizes the meat, it also has the property of muting the boar's inherent flavor. This can be beneficial for older animals, but it's not necessary for young ones.
For a tasty marinade, you'll need olive oil, juniper berries, bay leaves, pepper, mustard seeds, salt , and star anise. Mix these ingredients together to make your marinade and marinate the meat for at least 24 hours. Keep it refrigerated during this time, as otherwise the meat will spoil. The oil breaks down the protein structure of the steak, making it more tender.
FAQ
First, sear your wild boar steak on all sides for about 2 minutes and then let it cook in the oven for 15 minutes at about 220 to 230 degrees Celsius.
You can tenderize wild boar with either buttermilk or oil-based marinades. Gentle roasting also makes the meat tender and juicy.
Wild boar meat is of very high quality. Because wild boars live in the wild, they naturally have less fat and more developed muscle than conventional pigs. This means the protein content is very high and the meat is healthy.
Spoiled game meat has a black or brownish hue. Spoiled game meat also smells sweet.
Meat should never smell sweet. If it does, it's spoiled.
Our conclusion
When it comes to game , you need to make sure it's fresh. It should be dark red in color and have a nutty smell. If you see a black or brown tinge, the meat may already be spoiled. Even if it smells sweet, the meat is no longer edible. Therefore, be sure to check the origin of the meat and buy it from a butcher. But remember: Game is in season in the fall and winter.
Decide in advance what kind of dish you want to prepare. This will determine the cut you need. The flavor of wild boar is more intense than that of pork , so as a beginner, you should start with fillet or loin . The meat is lean and high in protein. It's also easy to digest and therefore very healthy. Fillet is also easy to prepare.
When preparing game , you'll need to make a few preparations. First, temper your game and bring it to room temperature. Remove the silver skin and set up a direct and indirect grill zone. For pan-cooking, you'll also need to prepare your oven.
You don't need much to prepare it. Just a handful of ingredients and some basic kitchen appliances are all you need to cook a juicy steak . In theory, you don't need to marinate the meat. Buttermilk should only be used if the animal the meat came from was an older one. However, you can always use an oil-based marinade with classic game spices .