Alpaca Meat Recipes

Kristen Schmitt wrote in Modern Farmer (May 2014):

Alpaca meat is the byproduct of culling the herd – but it’s a tasty byproduct. Each mature alpaca harvested equates to about 60 pounds of meat – roughly the same amount of meat you can get from a deer. Lean, tender and almost sweet, alpaca meat is nutritionally superior to many of its red meat counterparts. Lower in calories, fat,and cholesterol, this high-protein, exotic meat is beginning to appeal to those seeking out alternatives to domesticated meat like beef or pork, and even wild meat, like venison. Ground alpaca is versatile enough to be substituted in place of ground turkey or beef in most recipes.

In our view of the food system, choosing diversity in our meals with this kind of meat is healthy for the environment and for us. The added benefit is the unique smooth, pleasing flavor that is thinking about having a game taste but is too mild to get there.

Ground Alpaca can be used in all the same ways ground beef is used.

Alpaca Burgers with a Kick

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of ground llama meat
    • 2 jalapeño peppers - Minced
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • Tabasco Sauce
    • Crushed Red Pepper
    • Hamburger Buns
    • A grill
 Mix ingredients together and grill as you would any hamburger. Eat the same way as well!

Hamburger Patties with Onions and Garlic Recipe

Makes:  2 servings
Prep:  20 minutes   Stove top:  6 minutes each side for medium rare or to your taste

Ingredients

• 2 - 1/2 lb. Alpaca meat patties
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onions
• 1 - 2 cloves minced garlic cloves
• 1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs (or plain)
• 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Salt (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon Italian Seasoning (optional)
• 2 slices of chopped onion
• 4 tbs olive oil

Directions 
1. Place hamburger patties on a plate and allow enough time to come to room temperature.
2. Sprinkle Garlic Salt and Italian Seasoning to your taste on the top side of the patties.
3. Sprinkle very lightly with the bread crumbs on the top side of the patties.  Pat the patties gently to get the seasoning to adhere to the patty and not fall off when you cook it.
4. Chop the onion and mince the garlic.
5. Heat frying pan on the stove that is large enough to fit both patties.  Add the olive oil.
6.  Saute the onion on less than medium heat until transparent and then add the minced garlic.  Continue cooking about 1 or 2 minutes.
7.  Remove onion and garlic leaving the olive oil in the pan.  The burner heat can be adjusted to medium.
8.  Place the patties in the frying pan seasoned side down.  Put the timer on 6 minutes.  Move the patties around so they do not stick and cook evenly.
9.  Sprinkle Garlic Salt and Italian Seasoning to your taste on the unseasoned top side of the patties.
10. Sprinkle very lightly with the bread crumbs on the unseasoned top side of the patties.  Pat the patties gently to get the seasoning to adhere to the patty and not fall off when you turn it.
11.  After frying approximately 6 minutes for medium rare, turn the patties over and cook another 6 minutes.
12.  At the last minute or two of cooking add the reserved cooked chopped onion and garlic to the top of each patty.
13.  While the meat cooks, prepare any plate garnishes such as lettuce leaf or sliced tomato or avocado slices.
14.  Place Alpaca Meat Patties on the plate and enjoy!

From our Test Kitchen

• Variation:  Sprinkle 1/4 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese on the top for the last 2 minutes of cooking.
• Variation:  Sprinkle some Parmesan Cheese on the top for the last 2 minutes of cooking.

Makes 2 hamburger patties.