Fried alligator nuggets or fingers is a really delicious snack that doesn’t take long to fry up. A few minutes in the deep fryer is all it takes for a plate full of crunchy and golden brown goodness. I like to eat them with a garlic and sriracha dipping sauce.
I first ate alligator while vising Texas. A restaurant there was serving fried gator platters with oysters and I must say that to this day, it was the best and freshest tasting alligator I’ve had.
Since that day, I’ve eaten alligator: chili, stew, gumbo, burgers, sausage, meatloaf, tacos and Po Boy’s.
What does alligator taste like?
Despite of what you may of heard, alligator does not taste like chicken. Farm raised alligator has a milder gamey taste than wild-caught.
The texture is solid and chewy and similar to that of an old catfish or a tough catfish.
Where to buy alligator meat?
You can buy alligator online or in large grocery chain stores. It’s a staple down South and you can find alligator meat in just about any meat market, seafood and fish market and butcher shops.
If you’re not lucky enough to have a store sell it locally, order it online. There are numerous websites and online stores that sell cleaned and skinned alligator nuggets, tails and tenderloins.
Check out Amazon.com for alligator meat.
Best ways to cook alligator?
The best way to cook alligator for me is to fry the tenderloins (white tail meat) and make a Po Boy sandwich. Alligator Po Boy’s are as good as oyster and shrimp Po Boy’s. There are lots of ways you can prepare alligator meat and tons of recipes you can use it in.
Besides frying, you can stew it in soups, chili and gumbo. Alligator gumbo is absolutely delicious and awesome if you use alligator sausage.
How long to cook alligator?
Alligator doesn’t take long to cook. If over-cooked it will become very tough and chewy. If you’re grilling, sauteing or frying alligator meat, it never takes more than a few minutes on each side.
Best Fried Alligator Recipe
Ingredients
1 lb. alligator meat cut into small pieces
2 cups flour
1 cup buttermilk
1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
1 tbsp old bay seasoning
oil for frying
Directions
Combine the buttermilk and seasonings in a bowl and mix well. Add the alligator and stir to coat all pieces. Cover and put in the refrigerator for 1 – 2 hours.
When ready to fry, dredge the marinated alligator meat in the flour and let stand for 15-20 minutes
Heat the oil to 350 and deep fry until the alligator nuggets float and are golden brown
You can either eat with your favorite hot sauce or make a Po Boy. I also like to make a dipping sauce with sriracha, mayonnaise, garlic powder, lemon and Worcestershire sauce. Season it up with a little cayenne pepper, salt and pepper.