Every wild game, or fish chef, needs a few basic sauces. If the wild food is prepared fresh, sauces are often unnecessary, but if the meat is older, and freezer aged, a sauce could save the day. Sauces can be easily made, even over a campfire.
Here are some basic saucy ideas!
FISH Anyone can make a simple Tartar sauce but try this easy recipe for a Mustard Sauce!
1 tbsp finely chopped onion, 2 tbsp. butter, 1 tbsp. flour, ¼ tsp. salt, dash of pepper, 1 cup milk, 2 tbsp. Dijon Style mustard. I can’t help but to also add some Old Bay seasoning.
Cook and stir onion for a minute or so. Stir in the flour, spices, then add the milk and mustard. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 4 minutes.
BIRDS Wild birds are usually fat free, so whatever sauce you add needs to add some fat love. Try Bacon Grease Gravy.
Maybe a better name is Fat Big Bird Gravy! Any kind of fat will do. You need about ¾ cup of bacon grease. Add 3 cups of milk. Powdered or evaporated milk will work. Blend 4 tbsp. of flour into the heating milk and grease. Stir and heat until smooth. Should be about 3-4 minutes. Gravies and sauces are best when slowly cooked. If the gravy is too thin or thick, add milk or flour. I prefer the saucy gravy to be thicker. A little sour cream mixed in won’t hurt. Serve over the breasts or filets of wild birds.
BIG GAME Horse Radish sauce is a perfect choice for stinky mule deer or antelope. Works well will all meats.
4 tbsp. melted butter or fat, 2 tbsp. flour, 1 cup milk, 6 tbsp. prepared horseradish, ¼ tsp. salt. Blend the butter and flour until smooth, on low heat. Now add milk and stir until smooth. Stir in the horseradish and cook slowly until tick. Don’t burn. Add the other spices, and taste. Serve on the side. I also add a bit of paprika to taste.
Usually gravies end up as part of the dish while sauces are on the side. You can certainly make these recipes your own. Being a camp cook always invites you to camp. Fresh sauces and gravies make basic meals special.
Finger licking good!
Montana Grant
For more Montana grant, find this saucy guy at www.montanagrantfishing.com.
