Sandhill Crane porcupine meatballs,

[Titan 08]

2 1/2 cups finely diced onion
2 Tbsp olive oil
3 Tbsp dried thyme
4 Tbsp tomato paste
4 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 beaten eggs
1 Tsp salt
1 Tsp ground black pepper
3/4 cup finely chopped oatmeal
3/4 cup rice of your choice
2 pounds ground Sandhill Crane breast
Sauté onions, thyme, salt and pepper, cook till onions are opaque. Remove from heat, add tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce, stir well. Let cool and add to the ground meat, mix well, add eggs and oatmeal and mix. I use a fork for mixing as it makes for a lighter mixture. Add rice and mix again, form into meatballs and place in a casserole. It makes 15 meatballs for us. Top with a pasta sauce of your choice. Cover with tinfoil, 360 degrees for 75-90 minutes all ovens are different. Serve with pasta or mashed potatoes. This can also be made using any red meat, but the crane is fantastic. Pour the sauce over the meatballs prior to putting in the oven which cooks the rice. See my post #9 for a good and easy sauce.

 

[Grain]

Thanks for sharing. How fine do you grind the crane?

 

[Titan 08]

I use a grind of just under 1/4 inch. But larger is also fine.

 

[Grain]

I use a grind of just under 1/4 inch. But larger is also fine.

Perfect, cheers.

 

[jlovie]

Only a matter of time til I can hunt the cranes here in Ontario an give this recipe a whirl.

 

[Londonshooter]

Where does the porcupine come in? Asking for a friend who seems to shoot a few. I hear they smell like a pork roast after the quills are gone when they're incinerated.

 

[Titan 08]

Where does the porcupine come in? Asking for a friend who seems to shoot a few. I hear they smell like a pork roast after the quills are gone when they're incinerated.

It refers to the rice in the meatballs, but I suspect you knew that.

 

[Londonshooter]

It refers to the rice in the meatballs, but I suspect you knew that.

No, actually. Rice means porcupine?

 

[Titan 08]

No, actually. Rice means porcupine?

It refers to the rice sticking up like quills, and I guess whoever first made these meatballs thought it resembled them. The recipe works well with Elk, Moose, WT deer and Mule deer. I never use beef as it can let off rendered fat, which while it can be good doesn’t compare to game meat. I hope you try them, it is worth the effort, it takes only about 20 minutes to be oven ready. My wife sometimes makes a sauce with two cans of tomato soup, a half can of water, Italian spice to taste and a bit of spicy Clamato juice or sriracha sauce, also to taste, pour it over the meatballs before putting them into the oven.

 

[medvedqc]

It refers to the rice sticking up like quills, and I guess whoever first made these meatballs thought it resembled them. The recipe works well with Elk, Moose, WT deer and Mule deer. I never use beef as it can let off rendered fat, which while it can be good doesn’t compare to game meat. I hope you try them, it is worth the effort, it takes only about 20 minutes to be oven ready. My wife sometimes makes a sauce with two cans of tomato soup, a half can of water, Italian spice to taste and a bit of spicy Clamato juice or sriracha sauce, also to taste, pour it over the meatballs before putting them into the oven.

great recipes. i never dared shooting with because i did not knew what to do with ... changed today thank you.

 

[savagelh]

Thanks for the recipe. I'll be trying it this fall. Might try it with spruce grouse.