Alligator Recipe
This preparation demonstrates how alligator can be incorporated into familiar comfort food formats, making exotic ingredients approachable for mainstream American palates. The dish represents the practical cooking of Southern families who used whatever protein was available in traditional recipes.
Pepper Preparation: Blanch bell peppers in boiling salted water for 3 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Filling Preparation: Sauté onion and celery until softened, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
Meat Browning: Add ground alligator and pork to vegetables. Cook until no pink remains, about 8 minutes.
Mixture Building: Stir in cooked rice, drained tomatoes, breadcrumbs, parsley, Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Stuffing: Fill blanched peppers with meat mixture, packing gently but firmly.
Baking Setup: Place stuffed peppers in baking dish. Pour chicken stock around peppers.
Covered Baking: Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 30 minutes.
Cheese Addition: Remove foil, top with shredded cheese, and bake 10 minutes more until cheese melts and peppers are tender.
Service: Serve hot with pan juices spooned around peppers.
A medium-bodied red wine like Merlot or CĂ´tes du RhĂ´ne complements the hearty, comfort-food nature of stuffed peppers.
Per serving: 385 calories, 32g protein, 16g fat, 28g carbohydrates. Complete comfort meal with exotic protein.