How Do You Cook Ostrich Steak?

In many parts of the world ostrich is a very common and popular meat. For example, in areas where the ostrich is native, such as South Africa, ostrich steak is a common sight on the dinner table. Read on to learn more on how to cook ostrich steak.

How To Cook Ostrich Steak

how to cook ostrich steak

Ostrich has just recently become available in the United States. It is a red meat, and it is a very lean beef alternative. Many people say that eating it is similar to eating filet mignon.

Although ostrich is a red meat, its flavor is not is rich as some cuts of beef. For this reason, it’s a good idea to marinate in season ostrich steak before you cook it.

The right seasonings can impart a sort of rich flavor that Americans are used to finding in dark, red steak. It’s best to coat your ostrich steak with seasonings a couple of hours before cooking.

Use these ingredients to make a rich marinade:

  • One teaspoonful of coarsely ground black pepper
  • Two tablespoons full of Worcestershire sauce
  • One and a half teaspoons of course salt
  • One teaspoonful of onion powder
  • One teaspoonful of olive oil
  • Two cloves of minced garlic

This is enough for as many as four ostrich steaks about 4 or 5 ounces each and about three-quarters of an inch thick.

After mixing all of the ingredients for the marinade in a bowl, lay the ostrich steaks out on a plate and coat both sides of the meat with the seasoning mixture. Cover the steaks tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of two hours.

Before grilling, take the steaks out of your fridge and allow them to warm up to room temperature for about 15 minutes. During this time, preheat your grill to medium-high.

Grill the steaks for about 5 or 6 minutes on each side to an internal temperature of 150°F or higher. Take care not to overcook ostrich meat as doing so causes it to be dry and possibly gamey.

Take the meat off the grill and allow it to rest covered, in a warm setting for about 5 minutes.

Here is another recipe for ostrich that uses rich seasonings, butter and cream cheese to enhance the flavor of the meat.

How To Make A Perfect Ostrich Steak

Use Ostrich Meat For Many Dishes

You can use ostrich meat the same way you would use beef with slightly altered cooking times. Cook it as a steak; cut it into cubes to make soups and stews; grind it to make burgers.

In South Africa, stew made with ostrich meat is very popular. Just substitute ostrich meat for beef in your usual stew recipe.

Finely chopped ostrich meat can be used to make chili. Ground ostrich meat can be used to make:

  • Spaghetti sauce
  • Hamburgers
  • Casseroles
  • Meatballs
  • Lasagna

… and any other dish commonly made with ground beef.

The main difference between cooking with beef and cooking with ostrich is that you should be very careful not to overcook ostrich. Adjust heat settings and cooking times slightly so that you never cook ostrich meat more than medium well.

Additionally, you may need to add oil or butter to dishes cooked with ostrich as it is a very lean meat. It is never necessary to drain fat off ostrich meat.

Is Ostrich Meat Good for You?

Even though it is a red meat, it is leaner than standard poultry. Ostrich meat is a low-cholesterol, low-fat, low calorie alternative to red meat. It is also highly nutritious and provides a great deal of iron, protein and calcium.

Ostrich meat also provides large amounts of:

  • Vitamin B12
  • Vitamin B6
  • Phosphorus
  • Riboflavin
  • Selenium
  • Thiamine
  • Niacin
  • Zinc

Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 includes ostrich meat as a healthy source of lean protein.

Do you want to try ostrich eggs as well? Here is our guide on how to cook them.

2 thoughts on “How Do You Cook Ostrich Steak?”

  1. I just received a couple of these ostrich steaks as gifts.
    I have Alpha Gal from a tick bite. Can’t eat any mammal ingrediants. Can’t wait to try these. But I’m really not good at cooking. And there may be trace ingrediants of mammal in the spices.

    Reply

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