The New Red Meat - Buffalo

Cara was provided product to review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed are 100% her own.

If you are running away from eating much red meat because of its higher fat content or bad reputation, stop running! Maybe you aren't a beef fan, but I bet I can convince you to give buffalo meat a try.

Why? 

• How about the fact that buffalo are grass-fed, so they are much leaner and are low in calories, fat and cholesterol, but high in Omega-3s? Make sure you choose a great source, like Wild Idea Buffalo from the great plains of South Dakota. Wild Idea Buffalo raises only 100% grass-fed buffalo. They take great pride in keeping their buffalo antibiotic and hormone free, non-confined, free-roaming and humanely, field-harvested.
•  It tastes great! Wild Idea was recently named “Taste Test Award Winner” by Cooking Light magazine. It has also been praised by Ed Levine of Bon Appetit. When I made it for my family in meatloaf, they said it was the best meatloaf they had ever eaten! (Since it was such a hit, I will be sharing that recipe tomorrow with you all)
• It even helps the Eco-System. Red meat gets a bad rap for its huge carbon footprint, but with Wild Idea buffalo, they have a vision of improving the eco-system of the Great Plains. Wild Idea raises its buffalo on the 28,000 acre Cheyenne River Ranch, 38,000 acre Conata Ranch and several others in western South Dakota. Wild Idea’s land and animal management practices are as close to nature’s intentions as possible. By caring for the land and giving the buffalo room to roam, the prairie is nurtured back to health.

 Like I said before, our family loves Wild Idea buffalo! I used their steak filet to make this delicious stir fry.

I also used their ground bison to make the delicious meatloaf I am going to share with you tomorrow. The next thing I want to try is their buffalo sausage in this Bison Sausage Egg Bake recipe, straight from their test kitchen.

Bison Sausage Egg Bake

Serves 8

Ingredients:

·         1 lb. Buffalo Sausage (Italian Buffalo or Breakfast Sausage)

·         ½ cup chopped shallots

·         2 garlic cloves minced

·         ½ cup sundried tomatoes, chopped

·         4 Tb. fresh parsley, chopped

·         8 eggs (best farm fresh or organic)

·         1 cup half & half

·         1 cup heavy cream

·         2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated

·         ½ tp. Salt

·         1 tp. Pepper

Preparation:

1.       Preheat oven to 375*. Butter a 13x9x2 casserole dish.

2.       Over medium high heat in heavy sauté pan, crumble sausage and cook until lightly browned.

3.       Add shallots, garlic, tomatoes and 2 Tb. parsley and sauté for 3 minutes.

4.       Spread Buffalo Sausage mixture in bottom of prepared casserole dish .

5.       Whisk eggs. Add half & half, cream, 1 cup of cheese, salt and pepper. Mix until well incorporated.

6.       Pour over Buffalo Sausage mixture, and cover with remaining cheese and sprinkle with remaining parsley.

7.       Bake for 30 minutes. Remove and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Doesn't that sound good? Check out their website for more recipes, tons more good information on bison, and place an order to try some out for yourself.

Buffalo meat might become a new staple in your home!