Is Ostrich Meat the New Super Food?

With Consumers Choosing Low Carb Meal Plans – Ostrich steaks and burgers might just be what’s on the BBQ this summer.

When I’m hungry, I’ve got to eat NOW. That’s why I hate cooking. I’m not a patient person and having to plan a meal, simmer, sauté, is just not for me. I would much rather order take-out.

But with my new lifestyle (diet in other words) I need to plan ahead.

Because of my “new lifestyle” aka diet and exercise, I’m eating healthy foods and cooking meals.

Is Ostrich The New Super Food?

I cooked up ostrich filets. Very low in fat, very high in iron and other essential minerals and vitamins. It is sort of a Super Food.

The meat of the ostrich is red, a deep dark red. That’s because of the high iron content. It is also lean. No fat at all, also no marbling. Therefore there is no shrinkage because there is no fat to burn off. A 4 oz. filet stays 4 onces cooked.

How does ostrich taste, you ask? It’s not like chicken at all.

I found this meat to be dense and the texture very similar to beef. it does not taste like chicken at all! I think Ostrich meat has a subtle taste. It’s not gamey like moose, or robust like elk or bison. Ostrich will take on the flavour of any marinade. And it’s great with a sauce. A nice mushroom or a mustard sauce.

I did not make a sauce, nor did I marinade it but I found it excellent using just some seasonings.

I defrosted the filets, washed and dried them in paper towelling and seasoned them a bit with seasoned salt. I could have used steak spice but I was too lazy to reach for it at the top of the cupboard. So I used seasoned salt. It was right there in front of me. Next, I took a frying pan, put a splash of olive oil. You can use butter too, but I ran out of it and hadn’t gotten around to doing my shopping yet. So I used olive oil.

I also chopped up 2 garlic cloves. I let the pan get hot on medium high. When the oil was sizzling, I added the ostrich meat and the garlic. I put my timer on for 3 minutes per side.

Ostrich as most game meats, should not be overcooked.

I like my ostrich meat to be medium cooked. I like other game meats rare to medium rare, but ostrich I find has a better texture and is more tender at medium doneness. But that’s my preference.

I burnt the garlic unfortunately. Next time I will add the garlic after the meat is cooking for about 3 minutes.

When the meat was ready, I took it out of the pan onto a plate and let it sit for a couple of minutes. While waiting I took some parboiled broccoli and sautéd it in the hot pan with the garlic.

Add a green salad and you have a great meal. One ostrich filet was very filling because the meat is so dense and packed with nutrients.

All ready in 6 minutes. Healthy and Delicious.

Recipe for Garlic fried Ostrich Filets

2 ostrich filets (about 4 oz. each)
seasonings (such as steak spice, salt and pepper, or seasoned salt)
2tbs olive oil or butter
2 cloves garlic chopped

Cooking method

Heat the pan on medium high, add the oil. when oil is hot add the filets. Cook for 3 minutes, flip them over and add the garlic. Cook for an additional 3 minutes. Remove from the pan onto a plate and let them sit.

Broccoli side dish:

Parboil or microwave some broccoli until almost tender. Toss the broccoli for a minute in the pan that had the ostrich filets.

Serves 2

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