Squirrel Stew

[DMadden]

PHWAAOOR - the smell coming from my kitchen

Bought a squirrel today (and some venison too, but thats another day - probly tmoro! ). Already skinned and gutted, except the heart and liver left in, i decided to not use them this time.

Been prepping my ingredients for 2 hours! They include: an onion - fried with 2 crushed garlic cloves, 2 smallish carrots, 2 smallish potatoes, a chunk of turnip (all diced by the way), some shreddings of leek, ground pepper and salt (of course), a good helping of thyme, bay leaf, and rosemary.

I halfed the squirrel, and browned it off in the same pan as the onions and garlic - for flavour.
All ploncked in a caserole dish, and covered with water.
160oC, gave it an hour, then a little mix, and leaving it another hour.
If you could only smell it!!!!!! (photos will follow when its done, either tonight, or in the morning, depending on if i can move afterwards )

Thanks for looking,
Dan.
photos to follow..............

 

[Loenja]

squirrel tastes amazing simply cooked over a fire i really need to try it at home!!!
tell us how it went

 

[locum76]

I can't believe you left the heart and liver aside, they'd be the best bits. I'd suggest having them for breakfast with eggs.

 

[johnnytheboy]

I shot a squirrel today, so i think i will try this!!!

 

[Broch]

Mmmm! Squirrel pie

Broch

 

[Schism]

Been meaning to try this for a while now, let me know how it is!

 

[DMadden]

Right, as said, pictures..
But, i forgot to say, i also added a slice of streaky bacon which i cut up, and if i were to do it again, i would most deffinatly add more bacon!!
I also added the zest and a little juice of a small orange. May not think of this; and could easily be left out, but it did go well with the whole stew - gave it a sort of 'exotic' taste almost.



May not look the most appetising of stews - but it tasted great! (thats a branch of thyme btw, incase you thought 'whys there a stick in it?!')


Served with some nice, thick bread. Fantastic.

I can't believe you left the heart and liver aside

Damn!! well, atleast i know that for my next squirrel! Shame on me

So, all in all, it was great. Ended up eating the meat off the bone with my hands b'cos theres so little of it. And although i did enjoy this, i think i would try something different next time - probablly good old squirrel pie

Cheers for looking,
Dan.

 

[johnnytheboy]

For a minute there i thought you were in my kitchen and cooking my squirrel looking at those photos, ikea bowls, ikea tray, ikea kitchen roll holder!!!!

It looks very good, cant wait to get mines cooked, its a right chubby we guy!!!

 

[DMadden]

Damn! you figured out my subliminal messages to 'shop at Ikea!'

looks like ive still got nothing on Derren Brown then

 

[GordonM]

Looks excellent! Squirrel stew is my favorite game meal. I have a similar recipe with a few differing ingredients. Thanks for posting and sharing your pictures!

Gordy

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

Must get round to trying squiggle stew one day....

 

[Stanleythecat]

Any way to catch a squirrel witout shooting them? I look after a bit of wood but people would protest if guns were on site... other methods could be a bit more discrete and manage the population a little...

Leo

 

[DMadden]

Any way to catch a squirrel witout shooting them?

I think shooting is probably the most humane way - quick and painless, trusting you get a good shot!

But i suppose squirrel traps could be used http://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Cheese-STV076-Squirrel-Cage/dp/B000NWGJNW
never used one of these, so uncertain of how they acttualy work/ how effective. But these things usualy do work.
Another - in-humane - way, and I'm quite sure they are illegal, if caught! Would be to use a snare, wrapping wire around a longish log propped digonally up against a tree from the ground, and a snare formed just off the log so the squirrel runs through it. In-humane, as this is unlikely to kill the squirrel itself!
Oh, and using a catapult, but im also unsure on the legallities of that (sorry ), and i seem to remember there being one or two threads on such a topic.
all the best,
Dan.

 

[WeThePeoplexfbm]

thank____ we dont have them in oz, we might? i dont know?