Best 7 Alligator Appetizer Recipes

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Alligator meat is a unique and flavorful protein that can be prepared in a variety of ways. It has a mild taste and a firm texture, making it a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. Alligator appetizers are a great way to start a meal or to serve as a party snack. They are easy to make and can be customized to your own taste preferences. Whether you prefer fried, grilled, or baked alligator, there is an appetizer recipe out there that is sure to please everyone.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

ALLIGATOR BITES



Alligator Bites image

Try this dish with the Spicy Ranch Pizza Dipping Sauce or "Louisiana" Tartar Sauce.

Categories     app

Time 20m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 tablespoon The Original "Louisiana" Brand Hot Sauce™
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon Better Than Bouillon Roasted Chicken Base
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 pound alligator tail cut into ½" pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 package Shore Lunch® Cajun Style Breading/Batter Mix
2 large eggs, beaten and mixed with 1 tablespoon water
2 cups vegetable oil

Steps:

  • Add the Hot Sauce, olive oil, garlic, Roasted Chicken Base and onion powder to a small bowl and mix together. Add the alligator tails and toss to coat, set aside.
  • Heat the oil in a medium size saucepot and heat to 375°F.
  • Add the Breading/Batter Mix to a shallow bowl. Add the eggs and water to a separate shallow bowl.
  • Add the alligator tails to the egg mixture and toss to coat. Dredge each piece in the Breading/Batter Mix and add to the oil. Fry for 1 - 2 minutes or until crisp. Remove the fried alligator to a plate lined with paper towels.
  • Serve immediately.

FRIED ALLIGATOR NUGGETS



Fried Alligator Nuggets image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     appetizer

Time 8m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 5

1/2 pound alligator meat, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Fish batter, for coating (see *Cook's Note)
Cooking oil, for frying
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Serving suggestions: various dipping sauces such as remoulade, mustard, or cocktail

Steps:

  • Fill a deep pot halfway full with oil. Heat to 360 degrees F. Coat the alligator meat with the fish batter. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes, until gator floats in oil. Remove and add salt and pepper to taste. Serve as an appetizer with remoulade sauce, mustard sauce, or cocktail sauce for dipping.

ACE CHAMPION



Ace Champion image

A tasty recipe for Fried Alligator, cajun-style! Try this recipe featuring alligator that has been marinated in cajun seasonings, battered in buttermilk and seasoned flour and then fried until golden. So delicious! Want to see how it's done? We have the video right here!

Provided by By Ace Champion | June 16, 2017 12:52 pm (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(

Time 30m

Yield 3

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 lb. boneless alligator, fresh or frozen
2 tablespoon cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
1 tablespoon spicy mustard
5 dashes Louisiana hot sauce
3 cups lard, or vegetable shortening
2 cups flour

Steps:

  • 1 Pat the alligator meat dry. Place the alligator in a medium bowl and season with the cajun seasoning, garlic powder, and hot sauce, and toss to coat evenly. Cover and allow marinating for at least 10 minutes at room temperature. 2 Remove the alligator from the dry spices. 3 Heat vegetable shortening in a large cast-iron skillet until it registers 350°F (176°C) or use a recommended electric deep fryer. 4 In a separate bowl whisk together the buttermilk, mustard, and eggs. Whisk well. In another bowl add the flour and season with some cajun seasoning as well. 5 Dip the alligator in the flour and shake off. Then add into the buttermilk mixture and shake off. Then back into the flour and shake off. Repeat the process until all is done. 6 When the oil is ready, add the alligator pieces to the skillet in batches, shaking off any excess flour before adding them to the oil and being careful not to overcrowd the skillet. Start with the larger pieces. 7 Cook the alligator, using tongs to turn occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes. Keep an eye on the temperature of the oil, making sure the oil does not get too hot. Transfer the alligator to a plate lined with paper towels. Repeat the process until all the Alligator is cooked.

ALLIGATOR "BITES"



Alligator

My son brought this gator home from a friend a t work and asked me if I would cook it up for him..I can't say no to my son... I deep fried it and it turned out delicious! It tastes a little like chicken and frog legs combined..very good flavor...the cajun/creole seasoning was so good on this...and the onion and garlic in the...

Provided by Pat Duran

Categories     Other Appetizers

Time 25m

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 stick butter
1/2 c canola oil
4 clove garlic minced
1 medium onion, diced
1/2 c all purpose flour,or more
1 tsp each salt and pepper
1 1/2 Tbsp cajun/creole seasoning (everglade)
1 lb alligator filet

Steps:

  • 1. Use a heavy deep skillet, like a cast iron one. Place the stick of butter the onion,and garlic and cook until onions are translucent over medium/high heat.
  • 2. Cut alligator into bite-size pieces.Pound slightly with a meat tenderizer. Place the flour, and seasonings in a plastic bag. Add the alligator pieces and shake to coat evenly. Remove from bag and place on a paper plate. Heat the skillet and onions up and add the canola oil. When all the pieces are floured..add the pan is sizziling add the alligator to the pan -right on top of the onions. Fry for 3 minutes then turn over and fry for 4 more minutes until both sides are golden brown.
  • 3. When both sides are fried golden place on paper towel to drain... then place on plate and scatter the drained onion and scrapings over the gator.

CRISPY FRIED ALLIGATOR BITES



Crispy Fried Alligator Bites image

These Fried Alligator bites are deliciously crispy on the outside, and moist and tender on the outside - perfect for dipping in your favorite sauce

Provided by Danielle Wolter

Categories     Appetizer

Time 2h20m

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 pound alligator meat (tail or filet)
1 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon Louisiana hot sauce
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
vegetable oil for frying

Steps:

  • Cut the alligator into 1-2 inch pieces.
  • Combine the buttermilk with the hot sauce, then add the alligator. Let it soak for 2-4 hours in the fridge.
  • Mix the Cajun seasoning and flour together.
  • Heat oil in a Dutch oven or other deep pot to 350F degrees. Oil should be about 3 inches deep.
  • Dip the alligator pieces in the flour mixture then gently place them in the oil. Cook for 5-8 minutes, until golden brown on the outside.
  • **Cook in 3 batches to ensure each batch fries up crisp and non-greasy.
  • Remove and drain on paper towels. Serve with Cajun remoulade sauce or dip in ranch dressing.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 3 ounces, Calories 300 kcal, Carbohydrate 19 g, Protein 38 g, Fat 7 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Cholesterol 4 mg, Sodium 100 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 2 g

ALLIGATOR FINGERS



Alligator Fingers image

Quick and easy way to fix up gator bites for your friends - exotic, but taste like chicken! You can get frozen alligator meat online.

Provided by JerryFLA

Categories     Appetizers and Snacks     Meat and Poultry

Time 1h

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 pounds alligator meat, cut into bite-size pieces
2 tablespoons vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
oil for frying
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 cup cornmeal
2 tablespoons garlic powder
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons black pepper
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
1 tablespoon brown mustard
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Steps:

  • Place alligator meat in a medium bowl, and mix with vinegar, salt, and pepper. Cover, and refrigerate about 10 minutes.
  • Pour oil into a large skillet to a depth of 1 inch, and heat over a medium-high flame.
  • Add to a large resealable bag the flour, cornmeal, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Squeeze off excess liquid from meat, and add one handful of meat to the resealable bag. Shake to coat. Remove meat, shake off excess flour, and set on a plate. Repeat with remaining meat.
  • When oil is hot, place meat pieces into oil, being careful not to overcrowd. Fry until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove to paper towels, and serve hot.
  • To prepare dipping sauce, mix together in a small bowl the mayonnaise, horseradish, brown mustard, and red wine vinegar.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 487.1 calories, Carbohydrate 19.1 g, Cholesterol 2 mg, Fat 20.4 g, Fiber 1.2 g, Protein 54 g, SaturatedFat 2.1 g, Sodium 59.7 mg, Sugar 1 g

GREEN GRAPE APPETIZERS (ALLIGATOR EYES)



GREEN GRAPE APPETIZERS (Alligator Eyes) image

My neighbor served these little bites at her baby shower. Naturally I asked for the recipe. Be sure to make double...they go fast! A wonderful blending of flavors,with the refreshing inside bite of the seedless grape. I calls em, .....alligator eyes!...lol You might want to try seedless red grapes, with crushed pecans. Both...

Provided by Nancy J. Patrykus

Categories     Other Snacks

Time 15m

Number Of Ingredients 3

6 oz cream cheese...softened
25-30 large seedless green grapes
1-1/2 c walnuts...chopped very fine

Steps:

  • 1. Gather your ingredients.
  • 2. Put 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese in the palm of your hand. Put 1 grape on top of that. Now carefully bring the cheese up and over the grape...like a cacoon. Put these on a plate, covered with wax paper. Put in the refrigerator, for about 25 minutes.
  • 3. Roll the cooled cream cheese grapes in the crushed nuts...completly cover them. Put back in the refrigerator till serving time.
  • 4. When ready to serve..... Cut grape in hsalf. Put on a serving plate for your guests to enjoy. ***WARNING...make a couple batches.... I find this recipe serves guests that will not move from this wonderful appetizer! You might need a cattle probe !.....LOL A second thought...A bunch of grapes would look real nice sitting besides the cut on on the same plate for serving!

Tips:

  • Choose farm-raised alligator meat: Farm-raised alligator meat is considered to be safer and has a milder flavor compared to wild-caught alligator meat.
  • Tenderize the alligator meat: Alligator meat can be tough, so it's important to tenderize it before cooking. One way to do this is to marinate the meat in a mixture of acidic ingredients such as citrus juice or vinegar, and tenderizing enzymes such as papaya or pineapple juice.
  • Cook the alligator meat properly: Alligator meat should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure that it is safe to eat. Overcooking can make the meat tough, so it's important to cook it just until it reaches the desired internal temperature.
  • Use a variety of seasonings: Alligator meat has a mild flavor, so it can be seasoned with a variety of different ingredients. Some popular seasonings for alligator meat include garlic, onion, paprika, cayenne pepper, and black pepper.
  • Serve alligator meat with a dipping sauce: Alligator meat is often served with a dipping sauce, such as a remoulade sauce or a cocktail sauce.

Conclusion:

Alligator meat is a unique and delicious ingredient that can be used to create a variety of different dishes. Whether you're looking for an appetizer, a main course, or a snack, there's an alligator recipe out there for you. So next time you're looking for something new to try, give alligator meat a chance. You might just be surprised at how much you enjoy it!

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