MeatEater, Inc. is an outdoor lifestyle company founded by renowned writer and TV personality Steven Rinella. Host of the Netflix show MeatEater and The MeatEater Podcast, Rinella has gained wide popularity with hunters and non-hunters alike through his passion for outdoor adventure and wild foods, as well as his strong commitment to conservation. Founded with the belief that a deeper understanding of the natural world enriches all of our lives, MeatEater, Inc. brings together leading influencers in the outdoor space to create premium content experiences and unique apparel and equipment. MeatEater, Inc. is based in Bozeman, MT.

Barbacoa taco on flour tortilla with chopped onion and cilantro; roasted meat on baking tray

Raccoon Tacos

  • Duration

    4 hours

  • Serves

    4
Chef’s notes

Raccoon is not the prizedvenison backstraporwild turkey breastof game meats by any means. It’s considered a varmint and is generally a food associated with poverty that's eaten out of necessity. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Raccoon can be delicious, especially when braised, shredded, and served on crispy tortillas with fresh cilantro. To read more on the process of overcoming the bias around eating raccoon, check out my recently published articlehere.

Please note: Raccoons can be a vector fortrichinosisas well as some other pathogens. You need to handle the meat with care and cook it to an appropriate temperature. Be sure that the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit at some point while cooking.

Ingredients

  • 4 raccoon hindquarters
  • 1 large red onion, roughly chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 4-6 canned chipotle peppers in adobo
  • 1 tsp. ground chipotle pepper
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1 tsp. ground cloves
  • 1 tbsp. kosher salt
  • ½ cup lime juice, fresh
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 qt. stock
  • ¼ cup duck or goose fat (substitute lard)

Also works with

Venison shanks or neck, any gamebird legs

Special equipment

Dutch Oven

Preparation

  1. In a food processor, combine onion, garlic, chipotle peppers, spices, vinegar, lime juice, and salt. Pulse until fairly smooth, set aside.
  2. Brown hindquarters in an oiled pan over medium high heat for 2 to 3 minutes each side. Try your best to get them evenly browned on all sides.
  3. Place meat in dutch oven or slow cooker. Add puree mixture and stock, cover, and cook on low for 2 to 4 hours, check every 30 minutes after the first hour for tenderness. Remove from heat as soon as the meat is easy to pull off the bone.
  4. Pull meat from bones and coat in a few tablespoons of duck fat, place in serving bowl and add some of the braising liquid. Serve with any combination of tortillas, rice, beans, avocado, sour cream, salsa, lettuce, queso dip, and tomatoes.

Shop

Meatcrafter Essential fillet knife with long curved steel blade and olive green handle
Save this product
Shop Now
THE MEATEATER OUTDOOR COOKBOOK — STEVEN RINELLA WITH KRISTA RUANE; steak in cast-iron skillet over grill
Save this product
Penguin Random House
$38.00
Shop Now
Cookbook cover with roasted game in pan; text "MEATEATER'S wild+whole" by Danielle Prewett
Save this product
Penguin Random House
$35.00
Shop Now
STEVEN RINELLA — THE MEATEATER FISH AND GAME COOKBOOK; plate of cooked game with antler
Save this product
Shop Now
MeatEater seasonings six-pack: Mojave Mix, Roost Rub, Backcountry Bark, Bayou Boil, Backstrap Brew, Campfire Crust
Save this product
Shop Now
Mojave Mix seasoning jar, MeatEater label reads "MOJAVE MIX" and "SOUTHERN ZEST WITH A TANGY PUNCH"
Save this product
MeatEater Store
$13.99
Shop Now
Work Sharp electric knife sharpener with label "WORK SHARP SHARPENERS" and buttons "SHAPE SHARPEN REFINE"
Save this product
Shop Now
Meater+ Bluetooth stainless meat probe in bamboo charging block, visible text "MEATER+"
Save this product
Shop Now

Sign In or Create a Free Account

Access the newest seasons of MeatEater, save content, and join in discussions with the Crew and others in the MeatEater community.

Related

Reviews

Save this recipe

Raccoon Tacos

Recipe by:Wade Truong
Barbacoa taco on flour tortilla with chopped onion and cilantro; roasted meat on baking tray
  • Duration

    4 hours

  • Serves

    4
Chef’s notes

Raccoon is not the prizedvenison backstraporwild turkey breastof game meats by any means. It’s considered a varmint and is generally a food associated with poverty that's eaten out of necessity. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Raccoon can be delicious, especially when braised, shredded, and served on crispy tortillas with fresh cilantro. To read more on the process of overcoming the bias around eating raccoon, check out my recently published articlehere.

Please note: Raccoons can be a vector fortrichinosisas well as some other pathogens. You need to handle the meat with care and cook it to an appropriate temperature. Be sure that the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit at some point while cooking.

Ingredients

  • 4 raccoon hindquarters
  • 1 large red onion, roughly chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 4-6 canned chipotle peppers in adobo
  • 1 tsp. ground chipotle pepper
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1 tsp. ground cloves
  • 1 tbsp. kosher salt
  • ½ cup lime juice, fresh
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 qt. stock
  • ¼ cup duck or goose fat (substitute lard)

Also works with

Venison shanks or neck, any gamebird legs

Special equipment

Dutch Oven

Preparation

  1. In a food processor, combine onion, garlic, chipotle peppers, spices, vinegar, lime juice, and salt. Pulse until fairly smooth, set aside.
  2. Brown hindquarters in an oiled pan over medium high heat for 2 to 3 minutes each side. Try your best to get them evenly browned on all sides.
  3. Place meat in dutch oven or slow cooker. Add puree mixture and stock, cover, and cook on low for 2 to 4 hours, check every 30 minutes after the first hour for tenderness. Remove from heat as soon as the meat is easy to pull off the bone.
  4. Pull meat from bones and coat in a few tablespoons of duck fat, place in serving bowl and add some of the braising liquid. Serve with any combination of tortillas, rice, beans, avocado, sour cream, salsa, lettuce, queso dip, and tomatoes.