Meaty matter

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For those who love meats of all kinds, here’s something new. Coming straight from its native habitat Australia, emu is all set to hit the shelves in the city, as it officially launches tomorrow at Cibo.
Not yet a staple in the Indian diet, it has been a long journey for this flightless bird. But experts feel it’s moving into Delhi at the right time.
“These emu birds are reared specially for slaughtering and are of age between 15 to 17 months,” says Vinay Sharma, founder, CEO Tallbird Farms.
Slated to cost between `500 to `650, this meat is high in calcium, protein and iron, and is an excellent alternative for those who love the taste of red meat but desire a low calorie meal.
“Emu meat is 98 per cent fat free and is rich in protein and iron, yet low in cholesterol. The fat is 43 per cent monounsaturated, which helps in lowering the ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol in the human body. It is recommended by the American Heart Association as a heart healthy alternative meat,” says Vinay.
From the emu steak, pan-roasted ostrich fillet with brandy reduction and garlic confit to stir fried emu, there are many dishes that one can try with this healthy bird. It is in fact suited to a wide variety of cooking styles and is a good source that offers the fewest calories.
“After lamb, chicken and fish, the only thing I can offer my guests is seafood. So it’s fantastic that this new addition will have something more for guests. And the best thing is it can be used in any cuisine. The most common spices you can use while making it are chilli powder, paprika powder, sesame seeds, saffron, coriander powder, carom seeds and rosemary,” says chef Nishant Choubey.

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Heart healthy meat loaf

You can use ground emu the same way you use very lean ground beef. Emu meat is available either vacuum packed or fresh. It may be mail-ordered from individual producers or can be found at retail in specialty food stores, health food stores and retail establishments around the country. According to AEA, emu is deep red colored meat with no marbling. Because it is very lean, there will be little to no shrinkage during cooking. A moist heat and shorter cooking time is recommended.
Ingredients:
2 pounds ground emu
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 chicken egg
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp paprika
1/2 cup minced onion
1/2 cup minced bell pepper

Method
Mix all ingredients by hand in a large bowl.
If too soupy, add a bit more oatmeal.
You want this to be a very moist mixture; so don’t add too much.
Pour into casserole and bake covered at 350° for 45 minutes.
Remove lid and bake an additional 10 minutes.