How to prepare game and wild boar properly
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.
Game meat has a dark red color. When fresh, it has a slightly nutty smell. If it has a black or brownish sheen and smells sweetish, it is spoiled. Beginners to game or wild boar should opt for the fillet/loin fillet. It is lean, rich in protein, and thus very healthy. Preparation involves searing it and then letting it cook slowly. Marinades or buttermilk can be used for marinating 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 various ways. Classic variations include goulash, steaks, or even traditional roasted game. The different cuts of the animals are crucial here. For example, from roe deer and red deer, the shoulder is used for goulash, the leg as a roast, and from the saddle, both the tenderloin and the loin are obtained. These two prime cuts are used for preparing steaks.
Wild boar, on the other hand, can be prepared similarly to pork. The cuts of wild boar can also be made into goulash, roasts, or steaks. Feel free to use pork preparation methods as a guide. We have several videos on this on our YouTube channel.
However, the taste of wild boar is more intense than that of pork, which is why you should use different spices. Juniper, thyme, and bay leaf are a good choice here. You can also use our in-house spice blend, the Burger Seasoning. It 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 to be tender and juicy, the choice of cut is crucial. We recommend opting for the fillet or the loin. These are excellent for simple and straightforward preparation. It is important to bring the meat to room temperature before cooking it.
If your meat is vacuum-sealed and frozen, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight. If you buy the meat fresh, make sure that the cooling chain is not interrupted for too long. Meat generally needs to be stored cold, otherwise bacteria can spread on your game, and there is a risk of it spoiling.
Once you have your meat, make sure there are no bones or silver skin on your steak. If you are preparing the meat on the grill, set up a direct and indirect zone on the grill. If you are 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 heat area in 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 reaches an internal temperature of 60 to 62 degrees Celsius. Finally, let your fillet rest for a few minutes before slicing it with a sharp knife. This allows the meat juices to stabilize. Then season it with a little salt and serve your tender, juicy steak. There is 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 your meat. You can either use buttermilk or an oil-based marinade. Buttermilk does make the meat tender, but it also tends to dampen the inherent taste of wild boar. This can be an advantage for older animals, but it is not necessary for young animals.
For a tasty marinade, you will need olive oil, juniper berries, bay leaves, pepper, mustard seeds, salt, and star anise. Mix these ingredients to create your marinade and let the meat marinate in it for at least 24 hours. However, store it in the refrigerator during this time, otherwise the meat will spoil. During this time, the oil breaks down the protein structures 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 either with buttermilk or oil-based marinades. However, a gentle roasting process 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 venison, you need to make sure it's fresh. It should have a dark red color and smell nutty. If you see black or brown discoloration, the meat may already be spoiled. Also, if there's a sweet smell, the meat is no longer edible. Therefore, always check the origin of the meat and buy it from a butcher. But remember: wild game is in season in autumn and winter.
Decide beforehand which dish you want to prepare. This is crucial for selecting the cut of meat you'll need. The taste of wild boar is more intense than pork, which is why beginners should start with fillet or loin. The meat is lean and protein-rich. Additionally, it's easily digestible and therefore very healthy. Preparing the fillet is also straightforward.
For preparing wild game, you should make some preparations. First, bring your venison to room temperature. Furthermore, remove the silver skin and set up a direct and indirect zone on the grill. For preparation in a pan, you should also preheat your oven.
You don't need much for preparation. Just a handful of ingredients and classic kitchen appliances are enough to fry a juicy steak. Theoretically, you don't need to marinate the meat. Buttermilk should only be used if the animal from which the meat comes was older. However, you can always use an oil-based marinade with classic game spices.
