Re: [CH] Ostrich Jerky

Steve (snearman@erols.com)
Tue, 23 Feb 1999 00:54:52 -0500

>Anyone out there have a good jerky recipe?

{ Exported from MasterCook Mac }

 Steve's HOT! Jerky

Recipe By:	Steve  http://members.xoom.com/HotChiles/
Serving Size:	1
Preparation Time:	0:00
Categories:	Beef	Jerky	Wild Game	 Uncle Steve's

Amount	Measure	Ingredient	Preparation Method
5	pounds	beef brisket or venison	cut in thin strips*
1	large	fresh white onion or 1/4 cup onion powder	finely chopped
1	large	head fresh garlic or 3 tbl. garlic powder	minced
1	bottle	liquid smoke "Colgin®" (4 fl.  oz.)
1 1/2	cups	soy sauce "Kikkoman®"
3/4	cup	worcestershire sauce "Heinz®"
2	tablespoons	steak sauce "A.1.®"
1	teaspoon	monosodium glutamate "Acent®"
2	teaspoons	seasoned salt
1	tablespoon	fresh rosemary leaves
1/3	cup	black pepper	ground fresh
1/4	cup	brown sugar or molasses
		--- THE HOT STUFF ---
6	whole	fresh Habanero chiles (more to taste)	with seeds
1	tablespoon	dried Pequin chili pepper	with seeds
4	tablespoons	dried Cayenne Chile Powder



*Prepare meat by cutting into strips 3/4" X 1/2" and as long as you prefer.
Cut across grain for tender and lengthwise for chewy.  The more consistent
you are when cutting the strips the better your jerky will dry evenly. Very
cold or lightly frozen meat cuts easier.

Mix all ingredients in blender except meat and Cayenne.

Soak strips of meat in the above mixture and refrigerate for 24-48 hours in
a close container (I use a Tuppleware® bread box).  Shake several times to
mix well.

Remove meat from brine (save brine) and pat dry.  Place directly on oven
racks that have been covered with tin foil and sprayed with Pam.  Cook in
pre heated oven @ 160F for 2 hours (with door closed).  This kills
bacteria,  removes a lot of the excess moisture and melts any excess fat.

Return hot strips to brine mixture and refrigerate for another 6-12 hours
(remember to shake several times). Remove meat from brine, pat dry and
sprinkle with Cayenne powder.  Spread in dehydrator.  Set dehydrator at
145F.  The final drying usually takes about another 6-10 hours.  Do not
over dry (Check every hour).  Jerky should be tuff, hard and leathery,  not
brittle.  A real mouth watering HOT treat!  Enjoy.

If you don't have a dehydrator return Jerky to 140-150F oven for  6-8
hours, leaving door open a little.  Do not over cook.  Check texture often.

An alternate for the drying is to use a low heat smoker (cold smoking is
generally done at 90 to 115 F. over 5-10 days).  Leave out the Liquid
Smoke® and add 1/8 cup more salt in the Marinate.  Remove meat from
Marinate pat dry, sprinkle on the Cayenne, then into the prepared smoker.
I have done this several times and my taste buds have always voted this
method first place.  It takes longer, you need some equipment (if you have
a smoke house you are truly blessed), and time spent tending the fire, but
the result is worth every hour.  Also look at "Dan's Smokehouse Jerky"
recipe for details on cold smoking.

Store refrigerated or freeze in closed containers for long storage time (if
not consumed in 4-5 weeks)

Note - Venison has always cooked faster for me than beef (less moisture?).
So check it more frequently.

Yields about 1.5 - 2 lbs. dried jerky.

	-----
Notes:	I make this nice and hot for a reason.  If I leave out most of the
hot ingredients my children eat it like candy (2 lbs. in 3 days!).
Experiment with the heat factor to your taste.

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