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Recipe for Alligator and Vegetable Soup

This is a straightforward recipe; add whatever you want. And season the way you like to season soups. The only thing I do differently I use Shrimp Stock at the beginning, but you can use Chicken Stock.

I will show you a set of pictures from my pot size to adding items into the pot. As you can see with a pot this size there is no measuring, add everything.

Sauté Alligator, Steam Vegetables Over Rice

This is a straightforward country boy recipe for making a delicious dish.

Ingredients:
1) One pound of Big Pop's Alligator Meat cut into small pieces.
2) Marinate in your favorite Dressing for 24 to 48 hours. Do not use a cream dressing.

The following, we will cut into small pieces for steaming; I steam them for about 10 minutes. I like them a little crispy, not too soft. You can steam longer. There is no measurement to use when you are making this dish. Cut what you think you will need; your eyes are as good as any measuring cup. Make sure you cut everything in small pieces so it does not take too long to steam.

1) Asparagus just the tips
2) Celery
3) Onions
4) Multicolored bell pepper, each color has its own taste. Just use about one-third of each at first, you can add more if it is not enough.
5) Cabbage
5) Carrots
7) Mushrooms
8) Broccoli
9) Cauliflower
10) Salt and Pepper to taste.

When l start to sauté the Alligator Meat, l will use medium heat and use the same dressing that I marinated it in.

1) It takes about 10 minutes before the meat turns white; that is a telling sign it is done.
2) Then I will add the vegetables and sauté for another 10 minutes together.
3) Add to a bowl of rice and enjoy.

On a side note: if you are not allergic to garlic or sunflower seeds (without the shells), you can roast them in the pan before putting in your alligator meat to sauté.

Sautéed Vegetables and Alligator for Po'boys

We always Marinate First.

Ingredients for Marinating:
2 tbsp Red Curry Paste
2 tbsp Soy Sauce
1 tsp Garam Masala
4 cloves of Garlic, Minced.
Juice of 2 limes
½ to ¾ Cup of Olive Oil
Salt to taste
Pepper to Taste
Add your Alligator.

Combine the red curry paste, soy sauce, garam masala, garlic, lime juice, olive oil, and a generous pinch of salt and pepper into a gallon bag then toss the meat in it. Then we shake up the ingredients to make sure the meat is covered. I like to leave the gator in the refrigerator overnight, but you can get away with 3 to 4 hours.

Ingredients to Sauté:
The following ingredients are cut into 1 to 2-inch strips. We like to see what we are eating.

Mushrooms (do not cut)
Celery (½ inch)
1 to 2 Onions
Bell Peppers all different colors, each one tastes different, and they add their unique flavors. If we are preparing more than 4 Po'boys use the whole bell pepper if not use ½ of each.
Always Use Farmed Raised Alligator Meat.
This is just a suggestion for Kale Lovers you can add with the others during sautéing.

Instructions for Sautéing:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, diced.
1/2 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
1 1/2-pound alligator our product is already cut into ½ to 2-ounce pieces.
3/4 cup dry white wine
Salt to taste

Melt butter and add the wine to a heavy-bottomed skillet or on the griddle over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until it begins to turn golden. Add pepper flakes and alligator meat, increase heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring frequently, until meat turns opaque and is cooked through 12 to 15 minutes.

You need to add your cut to your Holy Trilogy and put them on a Griddle or in a Saucepan. When they start to soften add the gator meat and let it cook along with the Trilogy. Without saying you will have to adjust the ingredients depending on the number of Po'boys you are preparing. This should take about 15 minutes to complete, cut or taste a piece of alligator meat to see if it is cooked all the way.

Now if you want to base the Po'boy with something different make the Remoulade and put it on both sides of the bread.

Ingredients for Remoulade:
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp brining juice from canned jalapenos
3/4 tsp prepared horseradish
5-10 drops Chipotle tabasco sauce
1 or more cloves of garlic minced finely I love Garlic.
1/4 tsp paprika

Now Put It All Together AND ENJOY THIS LOUISANA UNIQUE DELICACY

SMOKING YOUR BACON WRAPPED ALLIGATOR BITS

Make Your Favorite Brine; if you have never used a brine, you can Google some good ones. If you are in Missouri you will be able to find my favorite bacon or you can order some from http://www.circlebranchpork.com

Leave the alligator to soak in the brine solution overnight. Because alligator meat is very lean, it isn't easy to keep the moisture in it, and it will quickly dry out while grilling or smoking it. Brining the meat will help it to stay moist while in your smoker.

Since we are using Farm-Raised Alligator Bits, make sure you fill the skewers TIGHTLY packed with the bits. When you have done this will all of the meat, you can go ahead and liberally put your choice of spice over the meat (both sides).

Time to wrap the bacon around it. Apart from tasting great, the bacon will also help with keeping the moisture of the brine inside the alligator meat throughout the cooking process. The easiest way to wrap the bacon strips around the skewered meat is to stab it onto the skewer at the bottom, wrap it, and then stab it at the top. This way, it will stay on there.

WHEN YOU ARE DONE WRAPPING ALL OF YOUR SKEWERS, IT IS TIME TO PUT THEM IN THE SMOKER! USING A BRADLEY RACK WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE A LOT EASIER WHEN TRANSPORTING THEM TO THE SMOKER AND WHEN YOU WILL REMOVE THEM WHEN THEY ARE DONE COOKING.

To add extra flavor to the meat, you can use mesquite and/or pecan wood in the smoker. The skewers need to cook for about two hours in total, at a temperature of 250F. Be sure to use a high-quality smoking thermometer to accurately measure your meat temperatures and the inside of your smoker. https://www.thermoworks.com/Smoke?tw=GRILLINGMEAT

You will need to check on it every 25-30 minutes to check that the bacon is crisping the way it is supposed to and that everything is going well. This alligator meat recipe is the perfect appetizer and can even be the main course, depending on how many you make. Enjoy!

Alligator Sausage and Alligator Meat with Red Beans.

Now before we start this, it is not a Red Beans Recipe:
We are going to use a lot of the same items, but we will change a few. I am making a large pot with (2) pounds of Red Bean so please cut in half if you use a 1-pound package of Red Beans.

Ingredients:
Start off with 4 to 6 cups of shrimp stock if you do not have it chicken stock will work. We want to soak the beans overnight in the refrigerator. Make sure that they are completely covered with stock. We will be cooking on low heat on the stove or in a crock pot until our beans are fully cooked (this could take between 6 to 8 hours). Once we have the beans in the pot, we will add water. Make sure they are covered by at least 2 inches.
Once we start adding the below items, we will have to add more water.

About 1/2 to 1 hour later we will then start adding the following.
1) one orange bell pepper
2) one red bell pepper
3) one whole onion
4) 1 cup of celery
Do Not Cut them into small pieces we like to see what we are eating.
5) 2 tablespoons minced garlic
6) one can of Rotel Tomatoes with Chilies
7) 1/4 to 1/2 cup of late reason White Wine (Sweet)
8) 2 to 3 bay leaves
9) 1 tablespoon dried thyme
10) 1/4 teaspoon dried sage
11) 1 tablespoon dried parsley
12) 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning depending on your taste
13) 2 tablespoons of Lea & Perrins better known as Worcestershire Sauce
14) 1 pound of Alligator Sausage cut into 1/4-inch pieces
15) 1 to 2 pound of Farm Raised Alligator meat cut into ¼-inch pieces
16) cook rice in a rice cooker and serve what you have cooked over the rice

As a side note you can add Mushrooms and Okra to your
desired amount.
Make sure you cook low and slow and keep stirring and adding water as needed.

Alligator Asparagus

1/2 onion
1 bell pepper (red and yellow)
1/2 to 3/4 can of chicken broth

Start cooking the Alligator, then add onions and bell pepper. Cook until bell peppers are soft.
Add chicken broth and bring it to a boil.

Add asparagus.
Reduce the chicken broth to a simmer.
Peal and cube the mango.
Add mango after the asparagus gets tender.
Cook on low heat for about 10 min. As always, you can add your special spices as you feel needed.

Alligator on a Stick Big Pop's Style

Went to the Farmers Market again for the major part of my Labor Day meal. It was very simple to cook, all-natural flavor, just added salt and pepper on both side and add some rub. Now, the way I did the rub was to put it in a salt shaker and just sprinkled it on both sides. You can use any vegetables but you need to make sure it will cook in about 10 minutes. The grill was set on 250 degrees and I cooked them 10 minutes on each side. Now, the Alligator will be done and moist if you need to leave them on the grill for a couple of minute's more for the veggies to finish that is okay. JUST WATCH CLOSLY.

Soft Tacos and Burritos

Ingredients

  1. One pound of Big Pop’s Farm Raised Alligator Meat
  2. Tomatoes
  3. Onions
  4. Cheese (Taco Blend)
  5. Cilantro
  6. Taco Style Flour Tortillas
  7. Shredded Iceberg Lettuce
  8. Taco Seasoning Mix
  9. Bell Peppers (Mixed Colors)
  10. Garlic
  11. Avocado
  12. One can Green Enchilada Sauce
  13. One can Ro-Tel (Diced Tomatoes & Green Chile’s)
  14. Mushrooms
  15. Salt and Pepper to Taste
  16. Hot Peppers
  17. Tony Chachere’s

Cooking Burritos

  1. In a Black Iron skillet, I will cover the bottom with a little Bertolli Olive Oil
  2. Heat up for about 15 minutes on low heat.
  3. Next I going to place in my Bell Peppers, Onions, Mushrooms, Garlic and Alligator Meat.
  4. The Alligator meat is already cut into ½ to 2 ounces pieces, so I am going to cut up the larger one’s in half.
  5. I will start to sauté on low heat when everything is soft, then I will add the can or Ro-tel. Cook for about another 15 minutes on low heat. If it gets a little runny add corn starch or flour to thicken up. Also add some Tony Chachere’s to taste.
  6. On a Flat Gridle I will start to heat the Tortillas.
  7. Now we are ready to plate, place you Tortillas down then add your mixture from your black iron skillet. Fold over then pour over the (heat up in Microwave) Green Enchilada Sauce.
  8. Top off with Jalapeno Peppers, Avocado and Cilantro.
  9. If you would like to before you put the Avocado and Cilantro on spread some cheese on top and microwave until melted.

Soft Tacos

Ingredients

  1. Onions (cut into pieces)
  2. Tomatoes (cut into pieces)
  3. In Black Iron Skillet cover with Bertolli Olive Oil across bottom. Heat for 15 minutes
  4. Farm Raised Alligator Meat (cut into smaller pieces)
  5. Add Taco Seasoning mix until Alligator is tender (about 15 minutes)
  6. Warm Tortillas on gridle
  7. Now we are ready to plate.
  8. Tortillas with mixture from skillet
  9. Add onions and shredded iceberg lettuce along with Taco Cheese.

Now we are Ready to Enjoy Either

Alligator with Rice

This is my simple but filling recipe for Tenderized Alligator Meat. When you chop up the following ingredients, do not make them too small. (You want to see what you are eating.) First start off by making yourself a big pot of Rice

Now we cut up:
1)1/2 to 3/4 cups of onions

2) 2-3 tablespoons of minced garlic

3)I/2 cup of Orange and Red Bell Peppers

4)1/2 to 3/4 cup of Celery

5)1/2 to 3/4 cup of Mushrooms.

6)salt and pepper to taste

7)add some Tony's seasoning but not too much if you have Kids eating. You can always add more on your bowl or plate.

8)add your alligator meat that is already cut up between 1/2 to 2 ounce pieces and tenderized. If you have a 2-ounce piece then you can cut it in half.

Grab another bowl and throw all of the chopped ingredients in a Black Iron Skillet and sauté until everything is translucent and soft. You want to empty take a can of Mushroom Soup empty out in a bowl, then fill the same can up with Milk and whisk well.

9)add one can of Rotel Tomato to the mixture.

10)When everything is translucent, add the Mushroom Soup to the pot. Let simmer for about 15 minutes, then you are ready to plate the dish in a bowl or plate over the rice. Now always remember these are my family's recipes, and they did not have a lot of seasoning going on 55 years ago. So this is a base add to it your favorite spices.

Alligator in Garlic-Wine Sauce

Alligator in Garlic-Wine Sauce

Follow step by step process and see photos below

Total Time: 1 h 30 m
8 servings 316 cals / serving

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds alligator meat, cut into cubes
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • all-purpose flour for dusting
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 3 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup white wine

  • I usually add about a 1/2 cup of onions, 1/2 cup of yellow and red bell peppers, 1/2 cup of celery and 3/4 cup of mushrooms. That's just me.


    • Chateau Ste. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc
    A crisp and bright Sauvignon Blanc
    •Add all ingredients to list

    Prep time : 20 min
    Cook Time : 10 min
    Ready In 1 hr. 30 min

    Directions:
    1.Toss alligator cubes with lime juice. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour to marinate.
    2.Squeeze any excess liquid from alligator and place into a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper, then toss with enough flour to coat. Remove alligator, shake off excess flour, and set aside.
    3.Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic: I usually add about 1/2 cup of onions, 1/2 cup of yellow and red bell peppers, 1/2 cup of celery and 3/4 cup of mushrooms chopped. Cook and stir until fragrant, and bell pepper and onions are translucent Add alligator, and cook until firm and opaque (5 to 6 minutes). Place alligator into serving dish, then pour wine into skillet and simmer until thickened, about 2 minutes. Pour sauce over alligator and serve.

    Alligator Sauce Piquant

    Alligator Sauce Piquant

    Makes about 3 quarts

    ¾ cup vegetable oil
    1 cup flour
    2 pounds alligator, cut into bite-size pieces
    4 cups chopped yellow onion (3 or 4 small onions)
    1 (Red or Yellow Bell Pepper, chopped
    3 celery stalks, chopped
    1 tablespoon minced garlic
    1 fresh jalapeno, seeds removed, minced
    2 bay leaves
    1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes and their juice
    1 (10-ounce) can Original Ro-Tel tomatoes
    Juice of 1 lemon
    4 cups shrimp or chicken stock
    1 teaspoon salt
    ½ teaspoon cayenne or more to taste
    ¼ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
    1 tablespoon Worcestershire
    1 bunch green onions, tops only
    1/2 bunch flat-leaf parsley, chopped

    First, make a roux of the oil and flour cook until dark brown. If you do not wish to make your own roux you can buy a good one a Walmart, add onions and stir well. Add bell pepper, celery, garlic and jalapeno. Cook, stirring often, another 15 minutes.
    When softened, add diced tomatoes. Simmer 15 minutes. Add bay leaves, Ro-Tel, lemon juice, broth, salt, cayenne, thyme and Worcestershire. Cook for 1-1/2 hours over low heat, stirring occasionally.
    Add cut-up alligator and simmer another hour, stirring occasionally. Add green onions, and parsley. Let sit for at least an hour before serving over hot cooked rice.

    Seafood, Chicken, Alligator and Sausage Gumbo

    Seafood, Chicken, Alligator and Sausage Gumbo "Big Pop's Style"

    The Roux
    Your roux is a 2 to 1 mix; 2 cups of a good olive oil like Carapelli, do not use Light or Virgin, and then 4 cups of all-purpose flour. Heat the oil on medium temp, when hot add the flour, you want a dark brown but not burned mixture, this takes constant stirring. It might take as long as 45 min; good tasting food takes a lot of preparation. In Cajun kitchens there are so many ways to make a roux; this is just one of many.


    Now if you do not have the time to make the roux, you can go to Wal-Mart a buy a large jar.


    While we are making the roux, we are also making the stock:
    -3 to 6 quarts of water, depending on how much you are making, this is what we are going to make our stock with. Place one or two chickens in for about 45 minutes, take out and cool, then de bone

    -3 to 5 pounds of heads on shrimp, 9/12 count cook in the Chicken Broth for 2 minutes then take out and cool off with ice or cold water to stop from cooking

    Then take off the heads and shells and place them in the chicken stock to cook for another 30 minutes.

    You are cooking both broths; we are looking to get the entire flavor. Then strain the broth, (here is one more secret) take the heads and with a knife scrap all the meat and fat out of head and put back into the broth. This gives the broth a fatter, richer flavor. When the stock ready to add to the roux be very careful the roux is hot, I will usually add a couple of cups at a time until it cools down then pour the rest in.

    We must use the holy trilogy, onions, bell peppers and celery. On the bell peppers I use green, orange, and yellow and purple, each has its own different taste. Now, as far as the sausage goes I like to add two to three different types, Andouille and Gator and Shrimp each has a distinctive taste.

    (1) pound of each Andouille, Gator and Shrimp Sausage sliced use at least 2 pounds, any of your choosing
    (2) 1 pound of Tsao
    (3) 2 bags of okra unless you have put some up from the summer which would be the way to go (again I like a lot of okra, so play it by ear you might want to add another bag)
    (4) 6 cups chopped onions or more
    (5) 3 cups of chopped bell peppers, different colors
    (6) 2 cups of chopped green onions
    (7) 4 cups of finely chopped celery (this is something you can add more of if you wish) even the leaves
    (8) Garlic I like garlic from Gilroy California, any would be fine, we need 1/2 to 1 cup, I like garlic so the more the merrier for me
    (9) 2 cups for finely chopped parsley
    (10) 1/2 cup of cilantro AND 6 bay leaves.
    (11) 2 to 4 cups of a late season white wine
    I did find a St. James (Velvet White) in Missouri that seems to work okay, you might get with your winery and see what late in the season sweet grape wine that they may have for cooking with. Sauterne was the choose of Chef Justin Wilson
    (12) At this time, you can de vein your shrimp, I personal do not, I will cut the shrimp in half, because we are using 9/12 shrimp and they are large, I will always drop some of the shrimp in the gumbo whole pull of the whiskers, adds more flavor.
    (13) 4 to 5 tbsp. of Lea & Perrins
    (14) Cayenne pepper to taste, add some taste you do not want it to hot for children
    -Salt, this is the old grandmother measuring method, again add to taste
    (15) 1 large can of tomato sauce


    Now we let simmer on the stove on low heat for 4 to 6 hours, and then place in refrigerator overnight. Sever the next day over a bed of rice. If you can find file powder ( Mamma Jean's on Sunshine if you live in Missouri) File add to the rice before you serve the gumbo over it. Be sure to keep stirring we do not want it to stick to bottom and burn.

    KEY: after you have completed your gumbo let it set over night in the refrigerator before you serve it, that way it lets all the flavors marry

    Alligator Étouffée

    Alligator Étouffée

    • 2 medium onions, chopped
    • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
    • 4 stalks celery, chopped
    • 1 (10 oz) can tomatoes or Rotel Brand tomato
    • Salt, black pepper and cayenne to taste
    • 1 lb alligator meat, cut in thin strips
    • 2 sticks butter
    • 1/2 cup green onions
    • 1/4 cup parsley
    • 2 bell pepper (Orange and Red)


    Directions
    Sauté onions, garlic and celery (bell pepper optional) in the butter until soft. Add the tomatoes and simmer for twenty minutes in a covered iron pot.

    Add the alligator meat and cook over a low heat until tender for about one hour. If the gravy thickens too much while cooking or at the end, add water. Add the onion tops and parsley in the last 10 minutes of cooking.

    Serve over rice, especially yummy with jasmine scented rice, a fresh tomato and lettuce salad and a thick slice of French bread for mopping your plate clean.

    Omelet Dinosaur Chicken

    Omelet Dinosaur Chicken

    Need a good breakfast? We make my granddaughter's favorite omelet Dinosaur Chicken as she calls it (ALLIGATOR MEAT) and she loves it.

    The ingredients are the Holy Trinity--Onions, Celery, Bell Pepper, then add Mushrooms and Dinosaur Chicken--aka Alligator meat.

    1) Crack 2 eggs and place over the vegetables until the eggs are over easy. (Option: over grits)
    2) If you are making this dish over grits, make them thick and be careful not to break the egg yolks
    3) Once cooked, place the Omelet over the grits and enjoy.

    Crawfish Etouffee Recipe

    Crawfish Etouffee Recipe

    This has a Grand Ma Twist. And tell him Happy Birthday from Cajun Country.
    Ingredients:

    • 1/2 cup butter, cubed
    • 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • 1-1/4 cups chopped celery
    • 1/2 cup chopped Green Pepper ( all Bell Peppers do not have to 1/2 cup chopped Orange Pepper ( be chopped fine I like midium 1/2 cup chopped Red Pepper ( size so when it cooks you can see
    • 1/2 cup chopped Yellow Bell Pepper (and taste the different flavors 1/2 cup chopped green onions
    • 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) chicken broth ( wish you had some home made Shrimp Broth but this will do)
    • 1 cup water 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste (sometimes I put a whole small can)
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt (always at salt to taste)
    • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
    • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • 2 pounds frozen cooked crawfish tail meat, thawed you can add another if you like alot of meat.

    Please make such you try to find find packages from Louisiana (not China) Australian will be fine also they have wild caught.
    Directions
    1. In a large heavy iron skillet if you have one, melt butter; stir in flour. Cook and stir over low heat for about 20 minutes until mixture is a caramel-colored paste. Add the celery, bell peppers and onions; stir until coated. Add the broth, water, parsley, tomato paste, bay leaf, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. The if you wish to add the can of Mushroom soup do so ( now do not forget this was a grandma specal and not a lot of people like Mushrooms)Bring to a boil, stir every so offen you do not want it to stick.

    2. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Discard bay leaf THE NEXT DAY. Add crawfish and heat through. Now you have to cook this the day before you want to serve it, TO GET THE FULL FLAVOR you want to Refrigerate over night to let all the flavors marry. Then reheat the next day and sever (OVER RICE DO NOT ADD RICE TO THE ETOUFFEE)

    ALLIGATOR SOUP

    ALLIGATOR SOUP

    FARMERS MARKET DAY, when to the farmers market today and got the following.

    1. green beans
    2. black eyed peas
    3. crowder peas
    4. okra
    5. small potatoes
    6. fresh onion
    Then I came home and cut them up for what I needed to make a soup for twos day so there is no measurement on that.
    We added:
    1. salt and pepper to taste
    2. can of tomato paste (small)
    3. some Tony's to taste
    4. Worcestershire sauce to taste
    5. 1 pound of Farm Raised Tenderized Alligator Meat of course (OURS)
    6. let cook for 2 hours on low heat and then made some of grand mama's hot water corn bread to finish it off
    *Please add any additional spices that you like