Rattlesnake Meat

Rattlesnake has been a delicious source of food in some northern parts of America since centuries. It is also used as a popular Hispanic medicinal remedy. People eat it in the form of various recipes. Rattlesnake meat became popular in the US with the consumption of the sweet water Texas rattlesnake. In recent times it has become popular worldwide. In some cultures it is a favorite delicacy, while in some Asian countries they say "warm the heart" of the snake when you eat.

In Texas where rattlesnake meat became popular in the 1950s'. People have liked and consumed it as barbecue or as a main ingredient in chili. Even canned rattlesnake meat is a favorite among local sweet water people and tourists coming in Texas.

How to Cook Rattlesnake Meat

Rattlesnakes are one of the most venomous snakes in the world and the animal is identified by its rings at the tip of its tail. When the rings shake they make a rattling sound. Their meat is pretty tough, but it can be consumed if cooked properly.

• The meat should be cut in thin slices, using a sharp knife. Beating it with a tenderizer for a few minutes to make it tender.
• Place the meat slices in a baking tray and apply salt in a generous amount to season the meat.
• Now pour water in the tray, ensure that half the tray is filled with water. Place the lid on the baking tray, preheat the oven to 350F.
• Place the baking tray and heat the snake meat in the oven for about 60 minutes. Take out the lid 10 minutes after the meat is cooked.
• Remove the baking tray, and serve the slices of meat with some tortilla chips and salsa.

Rattlesnake Meat Marinade

Ingredients

• cup Italian virgin olive oil
• cup of Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey (you can use any other brand of whiskeys too)
• fresh pineapple juice
• tsp of coarse ground black pepper
• 1 cup Roland soy sauce
• 1 tbsp of brown sugar
• 3 big chopped garlic cloves
• 1 pinch of dried basil
• 1 tsp of crushed red pepper flakes

Method

If you are an adventurous food lover who likes to try out different kinds of foods, then this is the right stuff for you. Rattlesnake meat is gaining fans from many countries. Let's try out this marinade recipe.

1. Take a large mixing bowl and add Italian virgin olive oil, soy sauce, fresh pineapple juice, minced garlic cloves, Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey, crushed red pepper flakes, dried basil, brown sugar and coarse ground black pepper.
2. Mix all these ingredients well enough and seal your bowl with a lid or an aluminum foil paper.
3. Place this mixing bowl in a refrigerator for 1 hours. The cooling will allow all the unique and delicate flavors to mix properly. After 1 hours take out the marinade and stir it well.
4. Your rattlesnake meat marinade is ready for use.
5. Place fresh rattlesnake meat in to this mixture and allow it to marinade for at least 4 hours.

Rattlesnake Meat Facts

• Rattlesnake meat whether eaten as a delicacy or just as fun should never be eaten raw, even if it is dried.
• The meat contains deadly parasites, which have been reported to harm humans with salmonella bacteria when eaten. If you are enjoying snake meat make sure that it is thoroughly cooked.
• The people who have tasted rattlesnake's meat say that it tastes like chicken. But some deny this claim saying that it tastes like frog legs.
• This snake meat is easier to find online than in local supermarkets or grocery stores.
• If you prefer to eat fresh rattlesnake's meat, try catching it from a mountain plain in a deserted jungle area. Always be careful while catching this venomous snake and never catch it from the head, you could put your life in danger.
• Before you cook the meat, wash it thoroughly. You can use cold water for washing it.

I am not a big fan of rattlesnake meat as I prefer chicken on a regular basis. The meat of a rattlesnake can serve as a good source of emergency food if you are lost in a jungle or a hilly area. Always remember you have to kill it first to eat it and trust me it's not easy.