Bison Tacos

This week’s recipe – bison tacos - is a leaner, natural twist on summertime tacos, courtesy of Stewart Ranch and the bison they raise just four miles north of Olney in Archer County.

Danny used the lean, all-natural (no antibiotics, no hormones) ground bison now available at Stewart’s Food Store to prepare tacos based on a recipe in Men’s Health magazine with a few adjustments.

Many home chefs may not be familiar with preparing bison, but it is similar to cooking beef, Danny said.

Bison can appear to be a deeper red and less marbled than beef because of its lower fat content. Because bison is lean, it will cook more quickly and can be easily overcooked. Bison cooked correctly is delicious and tender. Overcooked bison is dry and tough.

Ground bison meat should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.

After cooking your cut of bison, Danny suggests resting the meat before serving. “By resting the bison for 5-10 minutes, you are allowing it to maintain the juices and internally cook a tad longer,” he said.

Danny used diced red onions, chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and key limes for toppings, and dipped corn tortillas in a skillet of hot oil for a few seconds instead of using the oven. This recipe serves four people. All ingredients are available at Stewart’s Food Store.

Try this Tex-Mex classic with bison and let us know what you think!

Ingredients:

8 corn tortillas

1 tsp canola oil

1 lb. ground bison

1 Tbsp chili powder

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp oregano Pinch cinnamon

2 small radishes, thinly sliced

2 Tbsp fresh cilantro Salsa verde

Preparation:

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 200°F and set a large cast-iron pan on medium heat. Warm the tortillas (2 or 3 at a time) in the pan, 30 seconds a side. Wrap them in foil and stick them in the oven.

Step 2: Heat the oil in the pan. Add the meat and cook, stirring often, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the spices. Cook 1 minute. Add salt and pepper, to taste.

Step 3: Top each tortilla with some meat, radish slices, cilantro, and salsa verde.