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Finding the Forgotten Feast

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Wild Pig and Bear Recipes

Chopping up wild hog BBQ
Photo by Holly A. Heyser

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  • About: Flavor Variability | Trichinosis
  • Recipes: Sausage | Loin Recipes | Stews & Braises | Wobbly Bits | Pasta | Other


About

Wild boar is a princely meat when that boar is young or it was a sow; old boars can get funky and are much more challenging to cook. As omnivores, whatever the wild pigs were eating before you came along and shot one will determine how they taste, and, in some cases, what you can do with them.

A pig shot in a California summer will have been eating a lot of juniper and other strong-flavored forbs, and so the meat will be fascinating but strong. That same pig taken in spring after eating much of a farmer’s green barley sprouts will surpass any domestic pig, no matter how well raised. As with most things, timing and location are critical.

Bears are even more variable. A black bear that had been eating berries — or in the case of one group of Southern California bears, avocados! — will be wonderful eating. But that same bear could taste like low tide on a hot day if it had been eating dead salmon by a stream. You will get some idea of the quality of the meat when you field dress it. Just pay attention to your nose.

Both animals lend themselves to curing, but both, unfortunately, can be carriers of trichinae parasites that cause trichinosis. This does not apply if you are making regular sausage, as these will be cooked before you eat them. Read this article on trichinosis in wild game for all the details you need to know.

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Sausage

Four varieties of fresh, homemade sausages on a plate

Homemade Sausage Recipes

Recipes for fresh sausages with all sorts of meats, including wild boar and bear.

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Loin Recipes

A plate of wiener schnitzel.

Wiener Schnitzel

Pounded boar or bear loin breaded, fried in butter and served with lemon. Simple and good.

Read More about Wiener Schnitzel

A plate of jagerschnitzel

Classic Jaegerschnitzel

Another pounded cutlet — of any meat, really — served with a creamy mushroom sauce.

Read More about Classic Jaegerschnitzel

Japanese ginger pork on a plate with chopsticks

Japanese Ginger Pork

A simple Japanese pork loin recipe, served with mushrooms, ginger and soy sauce.

Read More about Japanese Ginger Pork

pork stir fry

Pork Stir-Fry with Asparagus

A very easy, very simple and lovely dinner done with the loin of wild pig (or really anything) and asparagus (or really any seasonal vegetable).

Read More about Pork Stir-Fry with Asparagus

Pork loin with asparagus on a plate

Green Garlic and Pink Pork

Wild Boar tenderloin with roasted asparagus and a green garlic sauce.

Read More about Green Garlic and Pink Pork

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Stews and Braises

A bowl of asado de puerco with beans and rice alongside.

Asado de Puerco

This northern Mexican dish exists in many forms, and it contains a surprising ingredient: avocado pit!

Read More about Asado de Puerco

Javelina stew recipe, served in a stone bowl

Ajiaco, a Javelina Stew

A Yucatecan stew with all sorts of tropical flavors. Works great with any meat, really.

Read More about Ajiaco, a Javelina Stew

cochinita pibil javelina

Cochinita Pibil

Another Yucatecan classic, this one may be the best thing you can make with a javelina or pork shoulder.

Read More about Cochinita Pibil

A plate of ossobuco milanese

Ossobuco Milanese

Shanks from a bear slow braised in the classic Italian method. You can make osso buco with large boar shanks, elk shanks or moose shanks, too.

Read More about Ossobuco Milanese

Chinese red pork in a bowl with chopsticks

Chinese Red Pork

Chinese barbecued wild boar belly. It is made of awesome. And yes, this works with bear and domestic pork, too.

Read More about Chinese Red Pork

A bowl of chile colorado

Chile Colorado

A Mexican classic, the “colorado” refers to the color of the stew, not the state.

Read More about Chile Colorado

pozole rojo in a bowl with all the fixins

Pozole Rojo

Possibly the national dish of Mexico, this stew predates Columbus. Great with pork, chicken, bear or whatever you have lying around.

Read More about Pozole Rojo

Chile verde in a bowl, ready to eat.

Pork Chile Verde

Another Mexican classic, only this time the boar is braised in roasted green chiles and tomatillos.

Read More about Pork Chile Verde

Chilaca pork stew in a bowl

Chilaca Pork Stew

This is a homey, easy dish from Michoacan, in Mexico. Pork, tomatoes, green chiles. What’s not to love?

Read More about Chilaca Pork Stew

pork cheek recipe

Cheek by Jowl

Braised wild boar cheek with crispy jowl bacon.

Read More about Cheek by Jowl

A bowl of Portuguese feijoada.

Portuguese Feijoada

This is the original feijoada, a thick pork and beans stew, made famous in Brazil. This version is more European.

Read More about Portuguese Feijoada, or Pork and Beans

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Wobbly Bits

grilled deer heart recipe

Grilled Boar Heart with Peppers and Onions

Boar heart cut into cutlets, grilled over a hot fire and served with grilled peppers and onions.

Read More about Grilled Deer Heart with Peppers

liver creme caramel

Wild Boar Liver Creme Caramel

Yep. I went there. And it is really, really good!

Read More about Wild Game Liver Creme Caramel

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Pasta

Close up of Siberian pelmeni dumplings.

Russian Bear Pelmeni

Russian dumplings, a little like big tortellini, served with onions and sour cream.

Read More about Pelmeni and the Eating of Bears

Bowl of malloreddus pasta with tomato sauce

Sardinian Gnocchi with Wild Boar

A traditional Sardinian recipe of simple, handmade pasta with a rustic meat sauce.

Read More about Sardinian Gnocchi with Wild Boar

Authentic bolognese recipe over pasta

Authentic Bolognese Sauce

An authentic Italian Bolognese sauce for pasta, made with wild boar or bear meat.

Read More about Authentic Bolognese Sauce

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Other Recipes

Chopping up wild hog BBQ

Wild Hog BBQ

Classic pulled pork barbecue made with a wild hog or bear shoulder.

Read More about Wild Hog BBQ

German meatballs on a plate.

Konigsberger Klopse, German Meatballs

German wild boar (or bear) meatballs. This is a very traditional dish in Eastern Germany.

Read More about Konigsberger Klopse, German Meatballs

Cooked crepinettes on a plate with bread and a salad.

French Pork Crepinette

This is a French style meatball wrapped in caul fat, which you can get out of a wild pig — or buy in a butcher shop.

Read More about French Pork Crepinette

bear fat biscuits recipe

Bear Fat Buttermilk Biscuits

Yep, you can make some really awesome biscuits using rendered bear fat instead of butter. Works with lard and duck fat, too.

Read More about Bear Fat Buttermilk Biscuits

sichuan twice cooked pork belly

Sichuan Twice-Cooked Pork

Classically done with pork belly or shoulder, this works well with a fat wild pig or bear.

Read More about Sichuan Twice-Cooked Pork

Chinese char siu boar recipe

Chinese Char Siu Pork or Wild Boar

Chinese style char siu pork, done with wild boar belly. You could use domesticated pork or bear for this, too.

Read More about Chinese Char Siu Pork or Wild Boar

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Hank Shaw holding a rod and reel in the American River

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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