Tap into your inner caveman and eat wild boar!
What is wild boar? It’s a hybrid of Old World boar and escaped domestic pigs, and termed by the USDA as “feral swine.” These wild boar number in the millions, and are running rampant in 39 states where they cause damage to agricultural crops, gardens, destroy native grasses, and impact wetland areas and soil.
Wild boar will even prey upon young livestock, so farmers and ranchers are less than pleased with their presence. That’s why hunting is encouraged in many states where the boar have become a nuisance. It’s so common (and dramatic) that a few reality TV shows were made, following the adventures of wild boar hunters.
Where Do You Find Wild Boar?
D’Artagnan partners with experienced trappers to provide the best wild boar on the hoof. Our wild boar is totally wild and is humanely cage trapped in Texas, and then brought to USDA-inspected plants where it is processed in the same way as farm-raised hogs. This means that we can enjoy the primal taste of wild boar without having to do any of the hard work. It just doesn’t get any wilder than this.
What Does Wild Boar Taste Like?
Wild boar meat is similar to pork, but there are a few differences worth noting. You will find that wild boar meat is lean, with a slightly gamey flavor that is far more intense than bland pink pork. It’s also surprisingly red when compared side by side. Wild boar meat has an intense, sweet, and nutty flavor, due in part to its wild diet of grasses and nuts, and forage. This meat can stand up to strong flavors.
We offer raw wild boar cuts, including the popular mini roast, stew meat, and a hefty wold boar shoulder, as well as prepared Wild Boar Sausage, including our new Wild Boar Saucisson Sec, a dry-cured sausage that is great for charcuterie or cheese plates.
A foodie from NY reviewed our Wild Boar Mini Roast:
We cut into small cubes for a stew as a special Christmas day dinner. It was fantastic! Combined it with root vegetables and the chef’s mixture of your mushrooms. Was gamey, but not too, flavorful, rich and great alternative to roast beef, turkey, ham–the usual. The table was set as a forest floor, with fresh fruits, Christmas greens, acorns, mushrooms. It was spectacular!
How To Cook Wild Boar
Cook wild boar at lower temperatures than other meats. Keep it low and cook it slow. Avoid overcooking, as the lean meat will dry out quickly. If your wild boar meat is frozen, do not defrost in a microwave, since this tends to dry and toughen the meat. Marinating wild boar meat overnight can do wonders, as the marinade will tenderize as it imparts flavor.
Try wild boar shoulder in the slow cooker with our easy recipe that yields tender meat and a rich sauce, and affords leftovers for sandwiches.
Cuts such as the tenderloin do not need marinating or slow cooking. You can simply pan sear wild boar tenderloin at high heat until it reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Try Chef Marc Murphy’s recipe for Wild Boar Tenderloins with Two-Potato Hash & Dried Cherry Sauce to see how easy – and tasty – it can be.
You can also watch our video, in which Ariane and Marc cook two wild boar dishes. Click through to our website for more wild boar recipes. We wish you many tasty cooking adventures with wild boar!
Since 1985, D’Artagnan has been at the forefront of the farm-to-table movement, producing superior tasting products by partnering with small ranches and farms. We are committed to free-range, natural production, sustainable and humane farming practices and no use of antibiotics or hormones. That’s why D’Artagnan products have been revered by America’s most renowned chefs for over 30 years. We offer the same high-quality products to home cooks at dartagnan.com, along with recipes and guides to help you live the tasty life.
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I bought boar shanks from D’Artagnan and they were delicious. Cook for a long time at a low temp and enjoy!