Alligator Hush Puppies
Alligator is very good. Tender and salty, it is very common cuisine in the Southern United States. Today, I’ll explore 2 different alligator recipes, Alligator Hush puppies and Alligator Piquant.
Well, obviously, alligator is not standard fare, here in our house in Upstate New York. Truth be told, I’ve never had alligator in my life. A friend of Eric’s came back from Florida last summer, and knowing about BCC, gave us a two lb. piece of tail meat to try. So I promised to get his alligator onto the blog.
I tested it two ways, first in these crispy hush puppies, and also in a spicy piquant stew variation you’ll find below.
Alligator Hush Puppies
While pawing through the freezer a few weeks ago, I found the poor piece of alligator and decided that if I didn’t cook it now, it would be freezer-burned, and I hate wasting good food! So break out Google and Pinterest to research alligator recipes. There are a plethora of alligator recipes for hush puppies, but I really wanted something a bit different.
Alligator Piquant
I found the recipe for the piquant, and after trying the hush puppies, thought that shrimp would be a great addition. The alligator meat itself has a somewhat fishy taste. It seems similar to some of the larger ocean fish species I’ve tried. That salty, fishy-taste. I was right on the shrimp; it added a different texture and flavor to the stew.
I have to say that the alligator was an interesting experiment, and I will try anything once. It is not my favorite protein, and I won’t be searching for it in the future, but it’s fun to try new things. Although, as I have said many times regarding venison, once you learn how to cook it right, it is delicious, so maybe I should change my mind on that.
Alligator Corn Hush Puppies
Ingredients
- 1 tsp Olive Oil
- 3/4 lb alligator tail meat, diced into 1/2 inch pieces
- 1/4 cup buttermilk + 4 Tablespoons
- 3/4 can corn, pureed in food processor
- 1/4 can corn kernels
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp Salt
- 2 tsp Pepper
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 8-10 drops chipotle tabasco sauce can substitute any hot sauce
- 1 green onion, sliced
- cooking oil
Remoulade Dipping Sauce
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp brining juice from canned jalapenos
- 1/2 tsp prepared horseradish
- 5-10 drops Chipotle tabasco sauce
- 1 clove garlic minced finely
- 1/4 tsp paprika
Instructions
- Brown alligator pieces in skillet with oil.
- Mix buttermilk, creamed corn, corn kernels, eggs in large bowl.
- Add dry ingredients and salt and pepper. Mix well.
- Add tabasco and green onion. Mix.
- Add alligator pieces, Mix.
- We shallow fried in about 1 cup of oil. You can also deep fry.
How to Make Remoulade
- Mix all ingredients together in small bowl. Serve with Alligator Hush Puppies.
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OMG, I just can’t wait to try this. My father loves alligator meat dishes. Thanks for this recipe
Thank you, Arjhon! I appreciate your comment!
You think that Aligator is rare in Upstate New York… You wanna check out the profusion in Eastern Hungary 😮 I have tried crocodile when I lived in the UK, and indeed snake in the Middle East both of which had a very similar texture and I found it really tasty. I love the sound of the recipes too, they sound delicious!
Haha! Right? I can imagine! Not a plethora of Alligator in Hungary! Thanks for the comment, Brian!
You are brave, I lived in Miami for 3 years and never had the courage to try alligator meat. I wouldn’t find the meat here now. Though your recipes sound good for other fish and I will try the piquant with monkfish
Haha! Yes, I’ll try almost anything once. It would definitely be good with any fish! It’s nice and spicy!
Such interesting ingredients, so when I have them, I know where to find the recipe! 🙂 Btw, I heard that alligator meat tastes like chicken, is it true?
No, it really tastes nothing like chicken. It resembles ocean fish. Thanks, Alina!
I live in Canada, and alligator is not an ingredient you would find here, but I certainly would like to try it! I love how you prepared it a couple of different ways as well – I love to try them both!
It is not a usual ingredient in Upstate NY either! But a fun and tasty ingredient! Thank you Courtney!
My husband just came back from New Orleans and had alligator for the first time, prepared similarly to your hush puppies. He loved it! This is all new to me and I love learning about things I’ve never cooked. Awesome!
I have a friend who loves it, as well! It is fun to learn about new cuisines! Thank you Valentina!
wow this is one delicious entree here in Florida and I would love to be eating this right now!
Thank you Claudia! I knew you Florida folks would appreciate it!
I have never tried alligator meat either and wouldn’t know where to find it. I do love hush puppies though and I bet it would be yummy in those!
The hush puppies were very good, to be sure! hanks, Vicky!