What Is Caribou and How Can I Use It?

Caribou rewards a little know-how: how to choose it, cook it, store it, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 25 recipes to cook with it.

Nutrition

Food group

Caribou is a member of the Lamb, Veal, and Game Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does caribou weigh?

Related

Lamb, Veal, and Game Products

Recipes using caribou

There are 25 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Caribou Burgers

Because caribou has so little fat, you'll need to add some pork for a juicy burger.

Caribou Meat Pie

A delicious meat pie is great at Christmas. Feel free to use ground beef, pork, lamb or a combination of different meats. Make a few of these meat pies a few weeks in advance, then freeze them in the freezer. Reheat it in the oven directly out of the freezer just before serving.

Bordelaise Sauce for Game

A classic French bordelaise sauce built from scratch in three stages: matignon, espagnole, and a red wine reduction finished with poached bone marrow. The ultimate companion for game, beef steaks, and roasts.

Caribou Picadillo

Spiced ground caribou simmered with tomatoes, raisins, red wine vinegar, cumin, and cloves. A Latin-inspired wild game skillet meal ready in 30 minutes.

Favorite Caribou Sausage

Favorite caribou sausage is a homemade wild-game sausage blending lean caribou and pork with grated potato, seasoned with allspice and a cayenne kick. A juicy, hunter's-table sausage for the grinder.

Big Bunch Caribou Sausage

Caribou sausage recipe combines wild game with fresh pork and a warm spice blend of nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and paprika. Yields 80 sausages, perfect for hunters and big freezer hauls.

Caribou Mincemeat Pie

Old-fashioned mincemeat pie with ground caribou, apple cider, raisins, currants, and warm spices, spiked with brandy. A lattice-topped holiday classic with a wild game twist.

Caribou Sausage #3

Caribou and pork sausage with grated potato mixed right into the grind. Allspice and cayenne bring warmth while the potato keeps every link moist and hearty.

Juniper Marinated Medallions of Caribou Fillet

Juniper Marinated Medallions of Caribou Fillet recipe

Stir Fried Caribou with Black Bean Sauce

Lean caribou strips seared fast in sesame oil and smothered in a from-scratch black bean sauce spiked with ginger, garlic, and chile. Swap in venison or beef if caribou isn't in your freezer.

Caribou Meatloaf- Chinese Style

Ground caribou meatloaf seasoned with Chinese five spice, soy sauce, and chopped radish greens. Cooked rice binds it all together for a wild game twist on comfort food.

Grandpa's Caribou Sausage

Grandpa's caribou sausage blends lean wild game with ground bacon for richness, then seasons it with garlic, allspice, coriander, and mustard seed before stuffing into casings. A hunter's homemade sausage that works for any lean game.

Caribou Sausage #2

Rustic caribou sausage seasoned with sage, allspice, coriander, mustard seeds, and plenty of garlic. A wild game sausage recipe for hunters who want bold, homemade links stuffed into natural casings.

Caribou Soup

Bone broth caribou soup loaded with potatoes, carrots, parsnips, turnip, and cabbage, seasoned with juniper berries and white wine. Even better the next day.

Braised Caribou

Caribou roast larded with salt pork, marinated in port wine with cloves and bay leaves, then slow-braised with cranberry juice and onions. A Northern wild game classic for hearty appetites.

Caribou Curry

Tender caribou simmered in mustard oil with turmeric, cumin, ginger and garlic. This wild game curry brings bold Indian spices to lean, rich-flavored caribou meat.

Orange Glazed Caribou Roast

Orange glazed caribou roast seared at high heat, then braised with orange juice, allspice, and juniper berries. Finished with a currant jelly and bitters glaze for wild game done right.

Caribou Stew

Slow-cooked caribou stew with lentils, potatoes, parsnips, and peppers in a white wine and Worcestershire broth. Crockpot-friendly and loaded with protein.

Caribou Steak, Garlic Stir-Fry

Overnight-marinated caribou steak strips stir-fried with garlic, green peppers, and water chestnuts in a soy-sherry glaze. Served over steamed rice.

Caribou Sausage #1

Big-batch caribou sausage with pork, paprika, nutmeg, allspice, and coriander. Stuff into casings for smoking or shape into patties for the freezer. 20 lbs total.

Caribou Meat Balls

Bite-sized caribou meatballs made with ground pork, oatmeal, mustard, and a kick of hot sauce. Pan-fried crispy in minutes. Makes 5 dozen crowd-pleasing appetizers.

Caribou Stroganoff

Caribou strips browned with mushrooms and onions, simmered in a Worcestershire-spiked sour cream gravy. Serve over egg noodles or rice for a wild game comfort classic.

Caribou Chili

Caribou chili built on lean wild game, red wine, garlic, and a heavy hand of chili powder, then slow-simmered and rested overnight so the meat turns tender and the spices deepen.

Caribou Empanadas

Scrumptious pastries made with succulent ground caribou, jalapeno peppers and tomato sauce.

Caribou Pepper Steak

Yum! I used organic beef stock, and also chopped a few cloves of fresh garlic instead of powder, never understand why use garlic powder when fresh garlic tastes much better. I browned the meat with canola oil. Overall it's a five-star dish, I would give it even more stars if I have a choice!

All 25 recipes