What Is the Taste of Squirrel? Is Squirrel Delicious?

Squirrels are one of the cutest natural creatures, with their distinctive fluffy tail and amazing ability to scurry up a tree with little effort.

But, you may not know all there is to know about your Sciuridae friend.

Squirrel meat may be unusual at an ordinary American restaurant, but it seems that it is not in many other countries.

Squirrel meat has gained widespread appeal in various regional cuisines throughout the globe, owing to its distinct flavor and sustainability.

So, how does Squirrel taste? And why do people consume it?

What exactly is squirrel and squirrel meat?

What is a squirrel? seems to be a dumb question. Isn’t that right? Squirrels are classified as members of the Sciuridae family of wild animals.

Rodents in this family include mice, shrews, chipmunks, ground squirrels, tree squirrels, and others.

Contrary to popular belief, there are over 200 distinct species of squirrels worldwide. Yet, only five species are known in North America.

Squirrels come in a variety of sizes and weights. The African pygmy squirrel (7-10 cm long) is the smallest, while the Malabar giant squirrel (35-50 cm) is the biggest.

Squirrels may be identified by their bushy tails, slim bodies, and large eyes. The color and design of the coat differ from one variety to the next.

What Is the Taste of Squirrel? Is Squirrel Delicious?

Some individuals may find the prospect of eating squirrel flesh repulsive. After all, they do belong to the rodent family.

If you can get over that mental picture, though, the flavor of squirrel meat may be extremely unusual.

Those who have tried rabbit meat report that squirrel meat has a strong flavor resemblance. Yet, the gamey texture of squirrel meat is more mild than that of rabbit flesh.

Some people say the squirrel meat tastes like a cross between chicken and rabbit.

They also have a sweet and nutty flavor, owing to their natural diet, which includes walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, and even fruits and vegetables like carrots and squash.

In summary, the flesh of the Squirrel has a more traditional taste comparable to what you’re used to, but with the addition of a prominent nutty flavor.

Nutritional Value 

As tasty as a squirrel might be, it is more popular because of its many health benefits.

In reality, its high nutritional value is one of the main reasons people consume squirrel meat, even if they find the idea of eating squirrel flesh repulsive.

Squirrel meat is a low carbohydrate and high saturated fat diet.

A pound of squirrel meat includes around 6g of protein, 0.9g of fat, and 34 calories, according to nutritionvalue.org.

Squirrel Cooking Instructions

Squirrel meat may be prepared in a variety of ways, thanks to its remarkable taste resemblance to chicken.

You might even try substituting squirrel for chicken in one of your favorite dishes. You just need to cook for a longer period of time.

According to the oldest recipes, squirrels were roasted and fried for eating.

Brunswick stew, which is simply a stew dish including different vegetables and slow-cooked squirrel meat, is one of the first culinary uses of squirrels.

The squirrel fricassee is another popular dish that can be found in numerous cookbooks going back to the late twentieth century.

The meat should first be pan-fried till it becomes brown. Following that, add the meat to the saucepan with the veggies, wine, and stock.

Slowly boil the whole mixture for 4-8 hours at a low temperature (about 100C 150C).

Precaution 

Squirrel meat, in particular, is suited for slow-cooking techniques due to its high bone-to-meat ratio.

Before cooking, be sure to remove all of the bones using a sharp knife.

Conclusion

Squirrel meat is an excellent source of a sustained protein diet.

Whether you’ve been avoiding cooking squirrel meat at home or are wary of ordering it at a restaurant, now is the time to try this unique delicacy.