Grilled Buffalo Meat: A Specialty Dish from Thailand

Grilled buffalo meat is a popular delicacy in Thailand and is often served to honor esteemed guests. This dish is made from lean cuts of buffalo, cow, or free-range pig meat sourced from the Northwest mountains. The meat is carefully sliced horizontally into 20cm by 5cm thick strips, resembling ingots.

To infuse flavor, the buffalo meat is marinated with a mixture of chili, ginger, and mac khen – a fragrant wild pepper seed indigenous to the Northwest mountainous region. It is then slowly smoked using charcoal and wood chips, resulting in a lightly smoky and delightful aroma.

This grilled buffalo meat is prepared using traditional techniques without any preservatives, yet it remains incredibly delicious and has a shelf life of approximately one month.

Enjoying Grilled Buffalo Meat

There are two simple methods to enjoy grilled buffalo meat. You can either reheat it in the microwave for two minutes at 600W or bake it in the oven at 220 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. By following these methods, you can savor an authentic and delicious taste of the Northwest mountain region.

Preparation of Grilled Buffalo Meat

Choosing Quality Buffalo Meat:

• Opt for dark pink or dark red meat with white fat, indicating tenderness and freshness.
• Ensure it feels firm and elastic to the touch, without any strange odors.
• Avoid meat with uneven color, slimy outer membrane, or excessive water content.

Preparation Steps:

Prepare the Buffalo Meat:

Start by cutting the buffalo meat into 20cm long and 5cm thick pieces. Tenderize the meat to enhance its tenderness.

Marinate with Spices:

Grind fragrant chili, followed by mincing or finely chopping chili, garlic, ginger, lemongrass, mac khen, salt, and sugar. Coat each piece of buffalo meat with the spice mixture evenly and marinate for 3 hours. Add only 3 tablespoons of mac khen for every 1kg of buffalo meat to avoid bitterness.

Grill on Charcoal:

After marinating for 3 hours, hang the buffalo meat in front of a charcoal stove approximately 60 – 70cm away for 9 – 12 hours.

Tips for Flavorful Grilled Buffalo Meat

For the best taste, lay the meat on bamboo grill racks and place banana leaves on top to preserve warmth. Intersperse some leaves between the meat slices. Light the charcoal stove with medium heat to evenly burn the smoke, then start grilling the meat. Flip the meat if it becomes too dry and check the heat periodically. After 9 – 12 hours of dry grilling, place the meat in a container to ensure thorough and even cooking.

How to Identify High-Quality Grilled Buffalo Meat

Flavor:

Superior grilled buffalo meat exhibits a distinctive yet pleasant aroma from the smoke and a unique flavor derived from the marinade.

Color:

High-quality grilled buffalo meat demonstrates a dark brown exterior, while the interior retains a fresh, tender pink color.

Appearance:

Good grilled buffalo meat is sliced into thick pieces. After grilling, it should become firm, requiring a tenderizing action for a softer texture. Quality buffalo meat expands when tenderized, whereas pork meat crumbles.

Accompaniments for Grilled Buffalo Meat

Grilled buffalo meat has an intense blend of spiciness and saltiness due to the unique spices used. To balance the flavors, you can enjoy it with chili sauce, garlic sauce, soy sauce, lime salt, or tuong (fermented bean curd).

Storing Grilled Buffalo Meat

Grilled buffalo meat, being dried, can be stored for 6 – 8 months when properly preserved. The recommended method is vacuum packaging the cooled meat or purchasing pre-packaged grilled buffalo meat. Store the vacuum-sealed meat in the freezer to prevent bacterial growth and maintain its freshness and deliciousness.

Where to Purchase Grilled Buffalo Meat

You can find and purchase grilled buffalo meat at traditional markets in the Northwest mountains or reputable online shopping platforms. The price ranges from 250,000 to 280,000 VND per 250g (price updated in December 2021).

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