Food Friday: Gator, what does it taste like and how do you cook it?

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Are you tried of chicken, pork, beef, or fish in your keto diet? Stop by your local butcher, and try alligator meat! A lot of people get the impression that alligator meat “tastes just like chicken”, but it definitely has its own distinct taste and texture. Gator meat is also a healthier option if you're trying to get that summer bod because it’s low in cholesterol, and high in protein. There are many ways to prepare gator meat as its own dish ranging from barbecued gator skewers, fried gator bites, gator gumbo, or even gator sliders. Well heck, it can also substitute meat for many of your existing recipes!

The most sought after cuts of the gator is the white meat because they are the most mild and tender parts of the gator. When people first people try gator meat they say that it “tastes just like chicken” or a “cross between frog legs and chicken”. The second most popular cut is the tenderloin followed by the ribs which both consist of red meat, and have much stronger taste compared to the tail meat so try the tail meat or white meat cuts first.

When grilling alligator meat it should not be rare or well done the meat is most delicious when grilled medium rare. When you look up recipes you will see that a lot of what goes into a great gator dish is the marinade, and preparation before hand. My preference would definitely be fried cuts of the tail meat that makes your mouth water for its fried savory goodness.

You don’t necessarily have to travel down south of the United States to source your own gator. Unless your feeling especially adventurous many butchers out of state will have cuts of frozen gator prepared to ship to you directly. Trust me, you'll thank me later for telling you about this. Would I eat gator meat? Yes, tail cuts first!