alligator

A reptile that can grow up to 19 feet in length. Alligator meat comes in three basic types: white tail meat (tender, like veal); body meat (pink, stronger flavor, slightly tougher, like pork shoulder); and dark tail meat (tough). The meat tastes like a cross between chicken and rabbit and is usually sold frozen as tail steak, stew meat, burgers, wings (legs) sausage or jerky. Alligator meat comes from the southern United States, and most crocodile meat is imported from Australia, New Zealand and various African countries.

Ingredient

Season: available year-round

How to store: Freeze up to three months.