The Joy of Cooking Invasive Species

http://modernfarmer.com/2014/03/invasive-diet-takes/

Louisiana Chef Philippe Parola describes nutria as “the best red meat you’ve ever had.” I know many here has had wild boar. Yummy. Who has tried nutria, or Asian Carp?

I have.  The most recent Carp meal was last week here in Germany at an Asian restaurant.  Ir's delicious!

I have.  The most recent Carp meal was last week here in Germany at an Asian restaurant.  Ir's delicious!

How was it prepared?

Marinated and cooked in the clay pot.  I'm sure there're many other recipes if we search the web.

The Louisiana DWF website actually shows you how to process the nutria. It looks just like a rabbit!

http://www.nutria.com/site25.php

And here is their recipe:

http://www.nutria.com/site14.php

I've heard they serve nutria in restaurants in LA. There is a similar creature in Oregon I believe.

I know they have cook offs in Louisiana to promote eating nutria and Asian carp. I would love to see something similar at one of our events. An iron chef style cook off featuring an invasive species as the secret ingredient. There are many talented chefs here.

Short lived series called "Eating The Enemy" starring Jeff "Stretch" Rumaner. 

http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/eating-the-enemy-2012/episode-1-season-1/asian-carp/512680

Oriental Carp was enemy numero uno.  I think he made a cake out of the fish.
 

I would love to see something similar at one of our events. An iron chef style cook off featuring an invasive species as the secret ingredient. There are many talented chefs here.

If you were in Florida, we could add Lionfish to the menu.

So I was looking at the invasive species list at CA DFG:
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=3868

I saw the usual suspects:
Bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana
Sacramento pikeminnow, Ptychocheilus grandis

But I was shocked to see this:
Northern pike, Esox lucius

They had a pike problem at Davis lake a few years ago. I think someone illegally introduced them into the lake. The dfg has tried to eradicate them twice.

They had a pike problem at Davis lake a few years ago. I think someone illegally introduced them into the lake. The dfg has tried to eradicate them twice.

the ultimate illegal immigrant

Sacramento pike minnow is an invasive species?

Sacramento pike minnow is an invasive species?

Yes, the Sacramento pikeminnow was illegally introduced into the Eel River, but they are native to Sacramento River.

From Carrie Wilson's column:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2010/05/fish-1.html