Course
Small Bites
Serves
2-4
Sometimes I find that the best concepts for squirrel and rabbit recipes come from the chicken recipes of great chefs. You obviously have to adjust the cooking method and cooking times, but the flavor profiles often fit.
This particular recipe was inspired by a very simple chicken preparation used by the chef Jamie Oliver. The squirrel meat can stand up to the pungent garlic and lemon, and the overnight marinade and slow cooking help to make the otherwise chewy meat perfectly tender and delicious.
Ingredients
- 2 squirrels, skinned and cut into 4 legs and 2 loins each (about 1 lb total)
- 1 bunch thyme, leaves only
- 3 sprigs rosemary, leaves only
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp. kosher salt
- Zest and juice of 2 lemons
- 3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Also works with
Preparation
- In a mortar and pestle (or in a bowl using a wooden spoon), mash the thyme leaves, rosemary leaves, garlic, salt, and lemon zest.
- Add the juice of 1 lemon and the olive oil and stir.
- Using a two-tined fork, pierce the squirrel meat many times.
- Lay the meat in a glass or ceramic baking dish and coat thoroughly with the herb paste.
- Pour the remaining lemon juice over the top.
- Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Prepare a grill for indirect heat.
- Put the marinated squirrel pieces on the cool side of the grill and roast slowly with the lid closed, turning occasionally, for 20-30 minutes or until tender.
- Quickly finish them on the direct side of the grill to crisp them up and get nice grill marks. (If you like, when you grill them for this finishing part, lay them on a bed of soaked sprigs of thyme or rosemary, which gives them a little extra smoky herb flavor.)
Sometimes I find that the best concepts for squirrel and rabbit recipes come from the chicken recipes of great chefs. You obviously have to adjust the cooking method and cooking times, but the flavor profiles often fit.
This particular recipe was inspired by a very simple chicken preparation used by the chef Jamie Oliver. The squirrel meat can stand up to the pungent garlic and lemon, and the overnight marinade and slow cooking help to make the otherwise chewy meat perfectly tender and delicious.
Ingredients
- 2 squirrels, skinned and cut into 4 legs and 2 loins each (about 1 lb total)
- 1 bunch thyme, leaves only
- 3 sprigs rosemary, leaves only
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp. kosher salt
- Zest and juice of 2 lemons
- 3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Also works with
Preparation
- In a mortar and pestle (or in a bowl using a wooden spoon), mash the thyme leaves, rosemary leaves, garlic, salt, and lemon zest.
- Add the juice of 1 lemon and the olive oil and stir.
- Using a two-tined fork, pierce the squirrel meat many times.
- Lay the meat in a glass or ceramic baking dish and coat thoroughly with the herb paste.
- Pour the remaining lemon juice over the top.
- Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Prepare a grill for indirect heat.
- Put the marinated squirrel pieces on the cool side of the grill and roast slowly with the lid closed, turning occasionally, for 20-30 minutes or until tender.
- Quickly finish them on the direct side of the grill to crisp them up and get nice grill marks. (If you like, when you grill them for this finishing part, lay them on a bed of soaked sprigs of thyme or rosemary, which gives them a little extra smoky herb flavor.)