[Dicky]

A squirrel has been half-inching the food put out for the birds and I might try to shoot it next time it comes.  I'm thinking perhaps a stew with tomatoes, thyme, pepper, carrots etc like I last did with a rabbit, but any other suggestions?  Do they need to be slow cooked or are they OK being cooked a bit quicker?

[deepinthewoods]

squirrel is lovely. it tastes a bit like nutty lamb!
due to the muscle structure and habit, it needs long slow cooking to break down the fast twitch fibres, the meat is very dense and one adult squirrel will easily feed two. they are an underused resource and very healthy due to the lack of fat.

thyme, bay leaves, pepper all go well. enjoy

[MAK]

If in doubt I would curry it.
Coypu are the local pest here. We got given some "ragondin" pate but I refused to try it or have any rodent product in the fridge. Think I would try the squirrel though as it is less rat like looking.

[Lesley Silvester]

I fried squirrel joints on the one occasion I cooked some.  They were very tasty.

[Rosemary]

A bloke I used to work beside had a contract shooting grey squirrels in an area where reds were present. He said they were fine to eat (the greys) but only the legs had any meat on them. We never discussed recipes but I suppose it's better than wasting them

[Fleecewife]

I suppose the traditional way was slow roasted on a little spit over the camp fire - or a long spit with several on. Or opened out, rubbed with herbs and cooked more quickly as with a fish.  I would imagine those methods would dry them out though.
 
If I had to choose, I would fancy the slow cooked stew, with rich gravy and lots of herbs and tasty vegetables     
I've never tried hedgehog, I hate pheasant, I love rabbit but I'm just not sure about squirrel.... .....ok, I would give it a go     
As for coypu - well, they've eradicated them in Norfolk as far as I know, and I never tried one when I lived there, but I think that would be Occupation food ie when there's not a lot else.
 
Let us know how it tastes Dicky 

[Dicky]

Would love to but the thing must know what I have planned.  Not seen it at all since.  I've had the air rifle ready in the upstairs bedroom for the last couple of days.  I will post an update if I manage to get it.

[Fleecewife]

Would love to but the thing must know what I have planned.  Not seen it at all since.  I've had the air rifle ready in the upstairs bedroom for the last couple of days.  I will post an update if I manage to get it.

    Can you blame it 

[Dicky]

Finally got it yesterday and will be cooking it up today in wine, tomatoes, carrots, onions and garlic with bay, thyme and pepper.

[deepinthewoods]

lovely.

[Dicky]

Well it was delicious.  Beautifully tender after about 2 and a half hours in the oven and a delicious flavour.  It would also be really nice with a sticky marinade and slowly barbecued.  Can't wait for the next one. 

[anderso]

grill with a little rubbed in garlic &butter turning every couple of mins very tasty

[john and helen]

yes very tasty ,,see if you can cure the fur/tail ... fly-tiyers use them...(fly-fishing)