Ostrich

Amazingly enough, ostrich is 90% lower in fat than beef and even has fewer calories than turkey, while still maintaining the richness and flavour of red meat. Unlike its counterparts, ostrich doesn’t shrink when you cook it, making it ideal for burgers and steaks. As an added bonus, ostrich meat naturally repels the harmful bacteria responsible for those memorable summer barbeque-induced food poisoning cases.

So why isn’t ostrich more popular in the North America? Low demand means low availability, so help increase this easy swap-in’s popularity by hunting it down at at farmers markets, small butchers, and specialty stores online. It won’t run you much more than high-quality beef or pork and most ostrich is naturally raised, so your inner hippie and carnivore can co-exist peacefully.

What Does Ostrich Taste Like?
Ostrich meat tastes similar to prime beef, filet steak, or veal. Ostrich may not be on the top of the list for birds you want to try eating, but this fowl's meat is considered a delicacy. Ostrich is classified as red meat because of the high levels of myoglobin in the animal. The dark colour of the meat resembles filet mignon rather than a ribeye steak, which has characteristic marbling. We liken the meat's flavour to beef more than poultry — just with the leanness of venison. The taste profile of ostrich pairs well with the same flavours often used with beef, including red wine, rosemary and garlic.

Ostrich are often farmed for their eggs as well as their meat. Ostrich eggs contain 2,000 calories, 100 grams of fat, and 235 grams of protein and the eggs weigh almost five pounds each. These eggs are described as being more buttery and sweet than chicken eggs. If you can find an ostrich egg at your local farmers market or an online seller, ensure you're okay with eating scrambled eggs for the foreseeable future.

How to Prepare Ostrich:
Although ostriches are birds, their meat is more similar to beef rather than chicken. Ostrich offers lean red meat that can be grilled, barbecued, or turned into delicious burgers. Because of its low fat content, it should be basted with high-fat marinades to retain moisture and cooked until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit for rare meat.

What Goes Well with Ostrich?
Ostrich pairs perfectly with rich marinades and sauces like red wine sauce, barbecue sauce, honey, and soy sauce. It also goes well with mushrooms, truffles, juniper berries, and snow peas.

Game meats may seem foreign and frightening at first, but they can be surprisingly approachable and delicious when prepared the right way. Elevate your menu above the competition while supporting sustainable efforts by adding some game meat recipes into the mix. You can then pair your game meats with winter beers to create the perfect seasonal menu.