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Home » Wild Game » Drunken Squirrel with Pumpkin Dumplings

Drunken Squirrel with Pumpkin Dumplings

By Hank Shaw on November 15, 2018, Updated June 16, 2020 - 7 Comments

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4.80 from 5 votes
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Drunken squirrel and dumplings on a plate with greens
Photo by Holly A. Heyser

This is not your grandma’s squirrel-n-dumplins. Nope, this is my modern twist on that classic: Drunken squirrel with pumpkin dumplings.

It takes the idea of the old classic, braised squirrel and dumplings, and mashes it up with lighter, more seasonal touches… and, well, I happen to love all those videos of squirrels getting drunk on fermented pumpkins. Never seen one? Look it up on YouTube.

The squirrel itself is super simple: Brown in butter, braise in white wine and a little stock. Squirrel stock, in my case. Yes, that’s a thing.

Alongside go my recipe for squash or pumpkin gnocchi, only not shaped like gnocchi. Boiled to set, then seared in a little more butter to brown a bit. Add to that some black (Lacinato) kale, onions, garlic and pecans — I can’t resist adding nuts to squirrel recipes — and you have a damn good plate of food.

If you want or need to substitute, you can use rabbit or pheasant or grouse or turkey in place of the squirrel, and some other green or nut that makes you happy. And butternut squash actually makes better dumplings than pumpkin — it’s drier.

Oh, there is one unusual ingredient I love to use in this recipe: pumpkin or squash seed oil. It’s dark, luscious and oddly peanut-y. You can buy it in some supermarkets or you can buy pumpkin seed oil online. Or you can skip it and use something like walnut oil or whatever.

Braised squirrel with pumpkin dumplings on a plate
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4.80 from 5 votes

Drunken Squirrel and Pumpkin Dumplings

As I mention above, you can sub in rabbit legs, or the thighs from chicken, turkey or grouse here. Any nice green will work besides kale, and you can use whatever nut or squash/pumpkin you have available. The dumplings can be made ahead and frozen, too. 
Prep Time45 mins
Cook Time2 hrs
Total Time2 hrs 45 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Southern
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 1159kcal
Author: Hank Shaw

Ingredients

DUMPLINGS

  • 1 cup cooked, pureed squash
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
  • 2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • A big pinch of salt
  • A few swipes of fresh nutmeg, or 1/4 teaspoon ground
  • 3 tablespoons butter, for frying

SQUIRREL

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 pounds squirrel meat, I prefer back legs only
  • Salt
  • 1 cup white wine or vermouth
  • 1/2 cup squirrel stock, or chicken stock
  • 3 to 6 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon squash seed oil (optional)

VEGETABLES

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 small onion, sliced thinly root to tip
  • 2 cloves garlic, sliced thin
  • 1 pound black (Lacinato) kale, chopped
  • Salt
  • 1/2 cup toasted pecans, or some other nut
  • 1 tablespoon squash seed oil (optional)
  • Lots of freshly cracked black pepper

Instructions

COOK THE SQUIRREL

  • Preheat the oven to 325F. In a large, shallow, ovenproof pan, melt the butter and brown the squirrel legs well over medium-high heat. Take your time. You want them nice and brown. 
  • When the legs are all done, add the white wine and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits in the pan. When you've done this, add the stock and bay leaves, cover the pot and set it in the oven to cook for at least 90 minutes and, more likely, 2 hours. You want the meat to be tender, but not so much that it falls off the bone. 

MAKE THE DUMPLINGS

  • While the squirrel is cooking, mix the squash puree, ricotta, beaten eggs and parmesan together in a large bowl. Add the salt and nutmeg, then mix in the flour 1 cup at a time. If you are new to dumplings, you might need more than 2 3/4 cup flour, but don't use more than 3 1/2 cups in any case -- that will make the dumplings too heavy. 
  • Set a large pot of water to a boil. Add a handful of salt to it when it's hot.
  • As soon as you can roll the dough into a log about the diameter of your finger -- doing this with well-floured hands helps -- cut that log into coins about 1/4 inch thick. The dough will be soft, and you'll need to wipe your knife clean periodically. 
  • Set out a baking sheet and flour it well. Pick up each piece of dough and gently shape it into a round, coin-like shape, then set it on the baking sheet. You might need to carefully dust each dumpling in more flour so it won't stick to everything. 
  • Using a spatula, carefully move the dumplings to the boiling water. Boil in batches, probably 3 or 4 batches, until the dumplings float and then for 1 more minute. Move the dumplings to another baking sheet that's been well oiled, so they don't all stick. 

TO FINISH

  • When the squirrel is ready, move the covered pot to the stovetop and set aside for the moment. Get a large, wide pan and heat 3 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Lay out the dumplings in one layer in the pan and shake to prevent them from sticking. Now let them sear for 90 seconds to 2 minutes undisturbed, so they can brown a bit. Toss the pan to mix up the dumplings, then let them sear another minute or three to brown a touch more. Move the dumplings out of the pan and set them in a bowl in the oven, which should still be warm. 
  • If you think you need more butter, add some to the pan you seared the dumplings in. Add the onion and saute for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring often. Add the kale, pecans and garlic and saute for a few minutes to coat the kale, then turn the heat to medium and cover the pan. Cook like this until the kale wilts, about 4 minutes. 
  • To finish, drizzle some squash seed oil over the squirrel and kale, then grind some black pepper over them both. Mix the dumplings with the vegetables and serve with some of the juices from the squirrel pot. 

Nutrition

Calories: 1159kcal | Carbohydrates: 89g | Protein: 78g | Fat: 51g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Cholesterol: 361mg | Sodium: 556mg | Potassium: 1883mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 16190IU | Vitamin C: 146mg | Calcium: 469mg | Iron: 14mg
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Filed Under: American Recipes, Featured, Recipe, Wild Game

Avatar for Hank Shaw

Hank Shaw

Hey there. Welcome to Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, the internet's largest source of recipes and know-how for wild foods. I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook.

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Comments

  1. Avatar for john hessjohn hess says

    December 2, 2018 at 6:44 pm

    Hi Hank, I added the eggs to the dumpling dough. I made the dough using a gluten free mix of Oat, almond and brown rice flours from a Tartine cookbook. I didn’t have 2 pounds of squirrel so I should have made fewer dumplings. But I did have home grown kale, so that was good. Thanks for the recipe, squirrel;s are tasty.

    Reply
  2. Avatar for Les LogarLes Logar says

    November 15, 2018 at 12:06 pm

    Oh how I wish I had a friend who is an avid hunter of all.
    I have to substitute other game in many of your recipes.
    Thank you for lending ideas on what to substitute with whatever is available.

    Reply
  3. Avatar for jon jonesjon jones says

    November 15, 2018 at 6:55 am

    Oh my goodness, mouth watering at 8am.

    Reply
  4. Avatar for Sarah BSarah B says

    November 15, 2018 at 6:18 am

    This looks delicious! Do you think I could use the same basic recipe for pheasant? Obviously a different flavor, but I think it woudl go well. Any suggestions for adjustments? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Avatar for Hank ShawHank Shaw says

      November 20, 2018 at 7:51 am

      Sarah: Absolutely. Clip off the drumsticks, or cook them, shred the meat and add to the greens. Serve the thighs as the main meat. If you only have breasts, don’t cook them too long.

      Reply
  5. Avatar for Peter ArthurPeter Arthur says

    November 15, 2018 at 5:40 am

    Hi Hank,
    I’m a new follower and I must say that you’ve inspired me to get out in the woods more. Keep up the great work!

    Regards,
    Peter Arthur
    Watertown, MN

    Reply

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Hi, my name is Hank Shaw; I’m a James Beard Award-winning author and chef. I started this site back in 2007 to help you get the most out of all things wild: fish, game, edible wild plants and mushrooms. I also write cookbooks, have a website dedicated to the intersection of food and nature, and do a podcast, too. If it’s wild, you’ll find it here. Hope you enjoy the site!

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