The American beef hamburger is as iconic as summertime BBQs and the Fourth of July. However, a world of exotic meats can make some of the most mouth-watering, unique-tasting burgers that may make you say, "Beef who?"
If you've never considered creating a burger from Bison, we're excited to share our guide on how to make a hamburger from exotic meats that you and everyone who takes a bite will never forget.
What to Know About Exotic Meats Like Bison
Cooking any exotic meats can require slight variations in temperature and timing. It's essential to know the fat content, or lack thereof, of any exotic meats you'll be trying for an exotic burger and how long and what temperature to cook them as they can and will differ from beef.
For instance, Bison meat works best when cooked low and slow on medium heat, and ground Bison contains so little fat that you may need to add fat or look for ground Bison with at least 15% fat for a juicy, perfect burger.
Additionally, some exotic meats have little to no gamey flavor when appropriately cooked. In contrast, others have more, and the right combination of spices and cooking can turn that gamey into something entirely different and delicious.
Game and exotic meats are a lot more versatile than you might think. If unsure, a great place to start is to pick a recipe you're comfortable making and substitute it with exotic meats—like the hamburger, as it's one of the easiest recipes to cook.
We also suggest trying to cook exotic meat with a good thermometer to avoid overcooking, which can influence the tenderness and flavor of these meats.
Bison Burgers
One of the many things we hear at Wholey is the belief that Bison meat is gamey. We're happy to bust that myth. It isn't! Bison burgers don't have any gamey aftertaste and create a thick, juicy burger with less guilt than beef. Many who have tried well-made Bison burgers will tell you that the meat has a similar flavor to beef but with a slight sweetness to it.
Bison is lower in fat and calories than ground beef, so it is a lean alternative to satisfy those burger cravings.
The best way to cook bison burgers is on a skillet at medium heat because Bison is such a lean red meat; cooking it at high temperatures will quickly dry it and turn it chewy. A Bison burger's internal temperature should be cooked to 160 degrees F.
Suppose you've never tried a Bison burger before. In that case, we recommend you try it with nothing more than salt, pepper, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce so that you can first experience the flavor before deciding what other spices to try. However, Bison and seasonings are incredibly flexible, just like ground beef, so use what you like and have on hand to experiment if you wish!
One last important note: like ground beef, we recommend not over-mixing or working the meat before cooking.
Simple, Juicy Bison Burgers
What you need:
- 2 lbs Ground Bison
- 1 to 2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 tsp Freshly Ground Pepper
- 3 tbsp salted butter
- 4 hamburger buns
- Optional Toppings: Red onion slices, sharp cheddar slices, BBQ sauce, pickle slices
How to:
- If using red onion as a topping, peel it and cut it into ½-inch thick round slices, keeping the circles intact. Set aside.
- Combine the ground Bison, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Mix gently until combined, then divide the mixture into four even portions, about 8 ounces each. Pat them together in a ball gently and press into a 1-inch thick patty.
- Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of salted butter and swirl to coat the pan. If using onion, place the slices in the pan and cook each side for about 3 minutes until golden brown. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the skillet, place the Bison patties, and sear until golden, about 5-6 minutes. Flip and cook for another 4-5 minutes or until internal temperature reaches no more than 160 degrees F. If using cheese on your burgers, add it during the last minute of cooking and cover to melt.
- Serve the Bison burgers immediately on toasted buns with seared red onion rings and toppings of your choice.
Why Try Bison Burgers?
Bison meat is a flavorful, rich, slightly sweet meat with proteins and other nutrients. Bison meat is low in saturated fat content and healthy meat. A 100-gram portion provides 20 grams of protein, 146 calories, and 7 grams of fats without carbohydrates or fiber. Bison meat also includes iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, and other minerals. Bison meat is a complete protein source containing all 20 amino acids humans need. Bison meat even contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) with anti-inflammatory properties. Meat like fish, turkey, pork, and chicken don't contain CLA.
Compared to beef, which is mostly grain-fed cattle, beef has a higher fat content and omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, which can potentially cause cardiovascular disease.
The lower heat is the key to ensuring that Bison burgers remain as healthy as they are juicy and tender. Searing meat at high temperatures can create worrisome compounds containing known and suspected carcinogens.
Game meat and Exotic meats are some of today's healthiest, nutrient-rich meats. Don't discount enjoying an unforgettable, savory, bursting-with-flavor burger when you experiment and try cooking with Bison!