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Alligator Bites

Tender pieces of alligator meat marinated in seasoned buttermilk, coated in a cornmeal crust, and fried until crisp.

50 minMediumServes 4380 cal/serving

Southern AmericanAppetizerStovetopHigh ProteinNut-FreeShellfish-FreePork-FreeAlcohol-Free

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Ingredients

  • 1 lb alligator meat, cubed
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tbsp hot sauce
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
  • 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
  • 2 cups vegetable oil

Instructions

  1. 1

    Whisk 1 cup buttermilk and 1 tbsp hot sauce together in a medium bowl.

  2. 2

    Add 1 lb cubed alligator meat to the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

  3. 3

    In a shallow dish, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal, and 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning.

  4. 4

    Heat 2 cups vegetable oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F.

  5. 5

    Dredge the marinated cubed alligator meat in the flour mixture to coat evenly.

  6. 6

    Fry in batches for 3 to 4 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 160°F.

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Questions

What internal temperature should Alligator Bites reach?

For Alligator Bites, the target internal temperature is 350 F (about 175 C), given in step 4. A probe thermometer removes the guesswork. The target internal temperature is 160 F (about 70 C), given in step 6. A probe thermometer removes the guesswork.

Can I skip the searing in Alligator Bites?

Step 6 reads: "Fry in batches for 3 to 4 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 160°F." You can, but you give up flavor. The browning in step 6 builds the savory base the rest of the dish is seasoned against. Give the pieces room so the pan stays hot.

What can I use instead of buttermilk in Alligator Bites?

The entry for Alligator Bites calls for 1 cup buttermilk. In its place: Stir a tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar into a cup of milk and let it stand five minutes. Plain yogurt thinned with milk also works.

Is Alligator Bites spicy?

Moderately. The heat in Alligator Bites comes from 1 tbsp hot sauce. For a milder plate, start with half the hot sauce and add more to taste at the end; nothing else in the method changes. For more, add it at the table rather than in the pot, so everyone sets their own level.

Can I make Alligator Bites dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in Alligator Bites is 1 cup buttermilk. Swap the buttermilk for plant milk soured with a teaspoon of vinegar per cup. The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Alligator Bites gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in Alligator Bites is 1 cup all-purpose flour. Swap the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works). Everything else proceeds as written.

Which part of Alligator Bites can be done ahead?

Everything up to step 2. Step 2 is a built-in pause of 30 minutes: "Add 1 lb cubed alligator meat to the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes." Do everything up to that point ahead of time and pick up at step 3 when you are ready to finish.

Serve it with

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