Squirrel Verde Taco Recipe

Serves 3-5 people. Prep Time: 25mins. Cook Time: 30-40mins

Squirrel hunting is great in so many ways, it allows you to hone your marksmanship, your stalking ability, and can provide a lot of action. Having 3 young hunters in the house, squirrel hunting is something we can all enjoy together. This squirrel recipe was given to me by friend and it’s a great way to celebrate the hunt! This recipe is adapted for an Instant Pot pressure cooker, but could also be made in a crock pot--just cook on low for 6-8 hours or until the squirrel has become tender.

Ingredients:

• 4-5 squirrels (quartered)
• 24 oz. Salsa Verde
• 32 oz. Beef Stock (any stock/broth will work)
• Flour Tortillas
• Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (Mexican blend would also work)
• Sour cream
• Cilantro
• Red Onion (thinly sliced)
• Avocado (optional)
• Cholula Hot Sauce (optional)
• Salt & Pepper

Quarter and butcher your squirrels. You can also use the body of the squirrel as the loins and belly meat becomes super tender as well. Once all of your squirrels are broken down, add them to the Instant Pot along with ~16-20 oz. of the salsa verde (leave some for mixing with the squirrel meat after picking it), and enough beef stock to cover the squirrel meat.

Set your pressure cooker to 15 minutes (add 5 minutes for older tougher squirrels). As your squirrel is cooking, prep your red onion by slicing very thin. Pick your cilantro from the stems, you can chop it up if you’d like. If you have an avocado, slice it up and salt and pepper it.

Once your squirrel has cooked for 15-20 minutes, allow for a natural release of the pressure for 10-15 minutes, as this will help it further break down. Check your squirrel for tenderness: it should break apart easily with tongs or a fork. If it doesn’t, cook for an additional 5-10 minutes. Once tender, remove from the Instant Pot and begin picking the meat from the bones. Latex gloves are suggested so you can pick the meat while it is still hot.

Be cautious not to allow any small bones in your picked meat. After all the meat has been picked, add the remaining salsa verde to the meat. Taste test the meat to see how much (if any) salt and pepper may be needed. Make sure to toast your flour tortilla in a skillet with just a touch of oil, then assemble. Add in your squirrel meat, then add in your cheese, onion, cilantro, avocado, and sour cream. Cholula or similar hot sauce would be a great addition right before going in for the bite. Serve by themselves or with a side of rice and beans. Enjoy!