Alligator Grillades Recipes

GRILLADES

Steps:

• Season beef cubes with kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder in a large bowl.
• Dust beef with 1/3 cup flour and toss lightly to coat.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook and stir beef in the hot oil until evenly browned, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Remove beef with slotted spoon; transfer to a bowl.
• Stir bell pepper, onion, celery, and garlic into the oil left in the pot; cook and stir until vegetables are lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Remove vegetables with a slotted spoon and add to the bowl of beef. Drain oil, reserving about 3 tablespoons in the pot. Reduce heat to low.
• Gradually whisk 1/4 cup flour into the reserved oil until you achieve a dark golden-brown roux, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir constantly and watch carefully; roux burns easily.
• Slowly pour beef broth into the roux while stirring; bring to a simmer, and cook until thickened, stirring constantly, about 3 minutes.
• Return the beef and vegetables to the pot. Add bay leaves, thyme, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, basil, tomatoes with green chiles, and 1 teaspoon salt.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until beef is tender, about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaves and stir in chopped parsley to serve.

ALLIGATOR GRILLADES

Steps:

• Core the tomatoes, cut into halves and rub with a small amount of vegetable oil.
• Make a small slit in the skin of each and arrange cut side down in a baking pan.
• Roast at 400 degrees until the skins blister.
• Cool, remove the skins, squeeze out the seeds and chop.
• Place the alligator meat between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet to tenderize.
• Mix the flour with 2 TBS of the Creole seasoning and season the alligator meat with the remaining 4 TBS Creole seasoning.
• Coat the alligator meat with the seasoned flour, shaking off the excess.
• Heat ¼ Cup vegetable oil, or just enough to cover the bottom of your pot, in a large saucepot and add the alligator meat.
• Saute until light brown on both sides.
• Add the wine, stirring to deglaze the pan.
• Add the garlic, bell peppers, onion, and roasted tomatoes.
• Cook for 5-7 minutes.
• Stir in the chicken stock and cook until the sauce begins to thicken.
• Add the green onions, thyme, and parsley.
• Season with kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper.
• Stir in the butter to richen the sauce.
• Serve over grits, noodles, or rice.

GRILLADES AND GRITS

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, combine the beef and veal together. Season the meat with Essence. Add the flour and toss the meat completely. Turn the meat out onto a floured surface and with meat mallet, lightly pound the meat. Turn the meat over and lightly pound the meat again. In a large cast-iron pot, heat the oil. When the oil is hot, add the meat. Brown the meat evenly on both sides for 5 to 6 minutes. Add the onions, bell peppers, and celery. Season with salt and cayenne. Continue stirring, scraping the bottom and sides of the pot to loosen any browned particles. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the vegetables are wilted. Add the tomatoes and garlic. Cook, stirring often and scraping the bottom and sides of the pot for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the bay leaves, thyme, oregano, basil, broth and wine. Season with salt, cayenne, and black pepper. Bring the liquid to a simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, and cook for about 1 1/2 hours or until the meat is very tender. Remove the bay leaves and serve with baked cheese grits.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

HUNTER-STYLE GRILLADES

Steps:

• Cut beef and veal into 2-inch pieces. Combine flour, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper in a small bowl. Place each piece of meat between two sheets of plastic wrap and gently pound meat to 1/4-inch thickness with flat side of a meat pounder, turning meat over occasionally.
• Lightly coat each piece of meat with seasoned flour. Heat olive oil in a wide 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Sauté meat (working in batches if necessary), stirring constantly and turning over, until evenly and lightly browned on both sides, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove meat from pan and set aside.
• Add onion, bell pepper, celery, and mushrooms and cook, stirring and scraping up any brown bits from bottom and side of pot, until softened, 5 to 6 minutes. Add tomatoes and garlic and cook, stirring frequently and scraping bottom and side of pot, 3 minutes.
• Return meat to pan. Add bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, salt, cayenne, black pepper, broth, and wine, then reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until meat is very tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Taste broth, and add balsamic vinegar to cut the richness of the braising liquid if desired. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

BARBECUED ALLIGATOR TAIL

Steps:

• Place milk in a deep bowl, add pepper flakes and rosemary.
• Season meat with black and cayenne peppers.
• Place meat in the bowl, add milk as needed to cover.
• Let marinate 3-4 hours.
• Remove meat from marinade, discard marinade.
• Pat the meat dry and re-season, if desired, with black and red peppers.
• Add salt to taste.
• Brush meat with olive oil to reduce sticking, and grill over hot coals, or over medium heat in a gas grill for about 15 minutes each side.
• Brush with oil again when turning.

ALLIGATOR FINGERS

Steps:

• Place alligator meat in a medium bowl, and mix with vinegar, salt, and pepper. Cover, and refrigerate about 10 minutes.
• Pour oil into a large skillet to a depth of 1 inch, and heat over a medium-high flame.
• Add to a large resealable bag the flour, cornmeal, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Squeeze off excess liquid from meat, and add one handful of meat to the resealable bag. Shake to coat. Remove meat, shake off excess flour, and set on a plate. Repeat with remaining meat.
• When oil is hot, place meat pieces into oil, being careful not to overcrowd. Fry until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove to paper towels, and serve hot.
• To prepare dipping sauce, mix together in a small bowl the mayonnaise, horseradish, brown mustard, and red wine vinegar.