The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Food & crafts => Recipes => Topic started by: sheila on July 21, 2010, 04:16:25 pm

Title: Braised Squirrel
Post by: sheila on July 21, 2010, 04:16:25 pm
I thought you might be interested in a recipe in todays Telegraph..

BRAISED SQUIRREL

1 Squirrel per person
1 tablespoon duck fat
5 shallots, peeled and left whole
4 rashers bacon cubed
Porchini (or ordinary )mushrooms
1 glass white wine
garlic
chicken stock
salt & Pepper etc


1) put the duck fat in a large casserole dish, brown the shallots,add the squirrel, whole or jointed and the bacon
2)brown the meat and mix in a glass of white wine
3)Reduce
4) add the mushrooms
5)reduce
6) add the stock, cover and cook in a low oven.
7) check after an hour and add more water if it's drying out
8) after 2 and a half hours test the meat with a sharp knife. If the juices run clear it is ready to serve ( with mash and chestnuts?)


Personally I think it is a waste of a glass of wine, What do you think?
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: Roxy on July 21, 2010, 04:27:39 pm
I will see what my cat says about braised squirrel, although she seems to prefer hers raw ;D
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: woodlandproductsfife on July 21, 2010, 04:51:26 pm
that spanish chesnuts? and where do you get them?
 Craig
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: Womble on July 21, 2010, 05:08:25 pm
Okaaay, So another recipe for beating the credit crunch is it?

Simply go down to Hyde Park and shoot a squirrel, then the other ingredients will only cost you about a tenner.  Like since when has austerity cooking included Porchini and white wine?!? (oh sorry, forgot this was the Telegraph!  ;D)
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: JulieS on July 21, 2010, 05:09:23 pm
If only I could catch the pesky so and so's who seem to have found a night job in my barn.......They appear to be partial to pig food!

Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: jameslindsay on July 21, 2010, 05:25:31 pm
I guess if people are happy eating rabbit or pigeon why not squirrel? Yuck ::)
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: Roxy on July 21, 2010, 05:33:23 pm
James, I am quite partial to rabbit stew ........so long as its not Leo and co my pet rabbits that is.
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: jameslindsay on July 21, 2010, 05:41:44 pm
Apparantly Roxy the top restaurants in London struggle to cope with the demand for rabbit! I know it is poplular and to be fair I have never even tried it.
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: Roxy on July 21, 2010, 06:05:21 pm
Well, I got away with it once with my very fussy OH, and said it was chicken.  I say got away with it, he did question the colour of the "chicken" as it was rather brown compared to chicken.  Never told him what it was, so he is none the wiser.  Did not tell him the other bit either, that one of our dogs caught the rabbit, and I grabbed it off her ;D

I have seen rabbits ready to use in the shops and they are expensive!!
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: jameslindsay on July 21, 2010, 06:07:21 pm
You will never go to heaven  ;) 8) ::) :P
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: Roxy on July 21, 2010, 06:10:20 pm
  ;D ;D ;D  I am the picture of innocence.  No one would believe I would do such a thing ........
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: woodlandproductsfife on July 21, 2010, 06:11:48 pm
Have to say I saw HFW cooking the old squirel and thought it looked delishous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: WinslowPorker on July 22, 2010, 07:53:01 am
i watched some programme last year think it may of been countryfile, anyway they were follwoing some bloke in the North East of England who was licensed to go round and shoot grey squirrels. I think the main reason was because of the them encroahing some of the last of our native red squirrel areas, anyway this guy was shooting 2-3000 a month!! he was coveing a really big area and they had actually noticed that reds had started to re-populate which was great.

The best bit was when asked what he did with all the greys, he said that they were sold to local butchers at i think £2 each or £3 a brace i cannot remember which, anyway that works out at around £4000 a month and demand was really high for squirrel meat. Now i think he pays a lot for his fuel and pellets, and his guns were not cheap and chearful but even so what a great job not just financially, but also how rewarding to clear out tree rats and let our own native squirels re-populate.
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: Hilarysmum on July 31, 2010, 07:52:23 am
In the land of if it moves shoot it and if it doesnt move put it in the pot anyway - they kill and eat red squirrels (never seen a grey one here) woodpecker, all sorts.
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: WinslowPorker on July 31, 2010, 10:37:03 am
Anyone see The One Show last night? the food critic man whose name i cannot remember had a plate of squirrel for everyone to try, Boris Johnson had a good old mouthful!!

and no comments about cannibalism with politicians being vermin.......................................... :o  ;D  :wave:
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: woodlandproductsfife on July 31, 2010, 09:10:38 pm
Boris allways looks like hes got a mouth full though
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: Budo1 on August 01, 2010, 12:20:48 pm
Well, I got away with it once with my very fussy OH, and said it was chicken.  I say got away with it, he did question the colour of the "chicken" as it was rather brown compared to chicken.  Never told him what it was, so he is none the wiser.  Did not tell him the other bit either, that one of our dogs caught the rabbit, and I grabbed it off her ;D

I have seen rabbits ready to use in the shops and they are expensive!!

rabbits is such a versitile meat... anything you can do with chicken.. same for rabbit. i went to game/ food fair  i had the most wonderful rabbit jerky and rabbit leek and italian cheese pasty.. was awsome. the great thing is that it is so healthy for you so low in cholesterol.
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: valr on August 16, 2010, 12:04:00 am
I saw on TV recently that rabbit was a more popular meat than chicken before the war ...
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: Mickyork on August 16, 2010, 01:03:09 am
Squirrel is tasty meat. I only use the lower half of the carcase for eating. Not enough meat on top half. I portion it, dip it in flour & fry on high heat just to brown. Then cook in my slow cooker with onion & carrot for about 4 hours.
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: CarraghsBorderCollies on October 15, 2010, 05:45:48 pm
ive heard rave reviews about squirrel, havent tried it yet but im getting some via my local gunclub soon
ive eaten many different native meats and fish includeing rabbit, venison, feral goat, pheasant, snipe, grouse, wild salmon, wild trout, pike, wild woodpigeon, mallard duck. and i hope to try eel sometime.
i also eat my own fowl including surplus roosters, guinea fowl, quail, duck.
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: OhLaLa on October 15, 2010, 07:09:03 pm
And as for HFW - he eats woodlice. Enough said!

Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: Eve on October 17, 2010, 11:01:14 pm
Rabbit was on Channel 4's Food programme on...uhhh... Wednesday, I think. There isn't much meat on one, though, and even less on a squirrel so I can't be bothered, really.
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: Sandy on October 18, 2010, 08:43:06 am
I know some butches give you a few quid for a shot rabbit, a good way to earn a bit of pocket money!!
Title: Re: Braised Squirrel
Post by: woodlandproductsfife on December 08, 2010, 03:22:47 pm
Hi Sheila That spanish chestnuts you talk about? and where do you get them? am a man lol

  Craig