Buffalo (Bison)

Bison, often inaccurately referred to as a buffalo, is very similar to cattle in anatomy and can offer a direct replacement for your favourite cuts of meat. Because most bison are raised in open pastures, they are considered a more sustainable option over beef. The most common and widely offered of all the game meats, bison shows up on menus in the form of short ribs and tartares, in burgers and as steaks. Bison is extremely lean and dense, though less firm than beef, with a rich flavour. Tenderloins or striploins are some of the best cuts, but bison also works well in stews. Bison meat is one of the leanest, most nutritious meats available and you can use it for burgers, roasts, steaks and stew. Because most bison are raised on open ranches and fed grass, the meat contains far fewer - if any - artificial antibiotics, hormones and steroids than beef and other more common meats.

Nutrition:
A 100 grams serving of bison meat - about 3.5 oz, or about ¼ lbs - contains about 146 calories. This makes it one of the lowest-calorie meats. A similar serving of 90% lean beef contains about 176 calories, while pork contains about 218 calories and turkey contains about 149 calories. Even venison, another very lean meat, contains more calories per serving, with 158.

Bison meat is a nutrient dense food because of the proportion of protein, fat, mineral and fatty acids to its caloric value. Comparisons to other meat sources have shown that bison meat has a greater concentration of iron, zinc and essential fatty acids. Rich in Vitamin B12, Selenium, Zinc and Phosphorus, bison meat is also an excellent source of Iron, Vitamin B6 and Niacin, all of which are recommended daily.

What Does Bison Taste Like?
Bison has a similar taste profile to grass-fed beef. It is also known to have a slightly less greasy flavour than beef, which makes ground bison a good swap for lean beef for burgers. Bison contains fewer calories than lean beef too, but it is susceptible to overcooking because of how little fat it contains. The key to making a good bison burger is to keep is to remove it from the heat as soon as it finishes cooking, rather than letting it continue to sit on a hot pan or grill..

How to Prepare Bison:
Most bison is free-range on farms rather than harvested via hunting. As a result, bison is one of the most accessible types of game meats; you can purchase ground bison in most grocery stores. You can use ground bison to make chilis, meatballs, or tacos instead of ground turkey or beef. A bison brisket is a good option for stews or braises, while sirloin and inside rounds should be pan-seared to avoid drying them out.

Because bison meat is so similar to beef, you would cook it the same way, altering the cooking method based on the cuts of meat. Bison meat is delicious when grilled, braised, or stewed. Popular bison cuts include sirloin, short ribs, tenderloin, flank and chuck. The internal temperature for bison meat should reach 145°F for safe steak doneness and 160°F for ground meat.

What Goes Well With Bison?
Complement your bison cuts with these flavours:

• Earthy Vegetables: Mushrooms, beets, carrots, parsnips
• Herbs: Thyme, rosemary, parsley, cilantro
• Sauces: Mustard, horseradish, ketchup, aioli