Bison; A Healthier Alternative to Beef

Bison is an excellent alternative to beef. It is very low in fat, and does not have a gamey flavor. The Mayo Clinic was one of the first to come out with the data in their MAYO CLINIC NUTRITION LETTER/November 1989, page 7.

Below is a comparison chart: •

BEEF, Broiled top loin USDA Choice – 9.4 fat grams, 207 calories

CHICKEN, Roasted light meat without skin – 4.5 fat grams, 173 calories

BISON, 2.42 fat grams, 143 calories

You can substitute bison in any recipe that calls for beef. Since the fat content is very low it can be a little dry so do not overcook it. Bison are also free range animals and are not given any synthetic hormones or antibiotics. Bison is no longer considered a specialty meat and can be found at a lot of grocery stores. Here is a great recipe for Bison Chili.

1 lbs. ground bison 1/2 lg. yellow onion, coarsely chopped 2 cloves garlic, pressed/minced 1 cans stewed tomatoes 1 can tomato sauce 1 can tomato paste 1/2 lb. black beans, soaked overnight (or longer ) 4 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced thick 2 T chili powder 1T cumin, ground ½ T fresh ground pepper

Bison Chili   Brown the bison, add onion, drain, put into stockpot (or crock-pot). Add garlic, tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste (adjusting sauce and paste amounts to suit your likes), black beans, mushrooms, chili powder, cumin, pepper and salt. Simmer at least four hours, then taste and add more chili powder/cumin/pepper/salt to taste (preferably simmering more if more spices were added).