Delicious Bison Meatballs Camping Recipe
While wild bison still roam Yellowstone Park (and occasionally injure campers who get too close while trying to take a selfie), domesticated bison crossbred with cattle live on ranches across North America. Ironically, the numbers of this hunted-to-near-extinction herd have been preserved because of their utility as a farm animal with meat that boasts less fat and more nutrients than beef.
Bison, I must say, makes for a delicious meatball. I admit that I was not too familiar with the meat before my wife rolled it into a recent dinner, but the results were amazing. Even the 3-year-old loved them. More amazing was that the 6-year-old loved them and the 8-year-old loved them. They all agreed on something, and nobody complained that they weren't getting macaroni and cheese or some variation of grain and dairy.
My children also contributed to the meal by finding some small, stray onions 'or something like onions' while digging up a patch of dirt in our yard for a garden, so we included the mystery vegetable (my wife called them scallions) in our samples. While I wouldn't recommend chopping up just anything you uncover in your own backyard, our experience demonstrates that this recipe can be adapted to incorporate what you have on hand.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon truffle salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup breadcrumbs or stuffing mix
- 1.25 lbs. ground bison
METHOD
Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl. Roll meat mixture into 1.5-inch balls. Heat 1 to 2 tablespoons of butter or oil in a skillet on your camping stove. Place the meatballs into skillet, evenly spaced but not touching. You may need to do several batches. Turn the meatballs every few minutes to assure even cooking. Once all the meatballs are cooked, use the same pan to make sautéed mushrooms.
How do you make those? We're so glad you asked. Read on:
SAUTÉED MUSHROOMS
While I was new to bison, I was no stranger to mushrooms, which are one of my favorite foods. I used to hate mushrooms, but I continued to try them throughout my life, and one day 'like magic' I liked them.
I loved them in this recipe. I loved the bison, too. They can work together, and they can work separately.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups sliced mushrooms (can be frozen)
- small handful of fresh herbs (I used sage and thyme)
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons water
METHOD
Dump all the above ingredients listed above into the hot skillet holding the meatball drippings. Stir occasionally until the mushrooms are cooked through and the mixture is fragrant.
Serve the meatballs and mushrooms over your favorite grain (rice, quinoa, millet, etc) or noodles. And be glad that bison are still around, both for their presence on ranches and for their presence in Yellowstone.
Know of any other great bison meat recipes for camping? Please share with us in the comments below!