Kangaroo... nutrition vs ethics

BBQ season is here, so why not throw some kangaroo on the barbie.

The advantages

Here's a little number story for you.

Bacon rashers contain 40% fat
Bacon shortcuts, pork and salami contain 30% fat
Beef & lamb contain 15% fat
Chicken & fish contain 5% fat

Kangaroo? 1.5% fat

Why? Kangaroo is classed as game meat. Meaning it's not domestically bred, it has to find its own food and isn't just spoon fed in a farm. Game meats, such as kangaroo, pheasant and deer (venison) are all very lean because they are more active than other animals as they have to hunt down their own food. It makes sense doesn't it... (think back to the hunter and gatherer days, there weren't many obese men or women back then).

 Believe it or not this photo was taken on my parents' property a month or two ago. Incredible!

As the fat on animals is predominantly saturated fat (the artery clogging fat), we want to minimise the amount of fat on our meat. Trimming the fat off any meat before cooking is a great strategy, but some meats still contain a lot of fat inside the actual meat (think a wagu marbled steak), so even if you trim the fat off the outside, some meats will still be relatively high in saturated fat. Kangaroo meat is very low in both total and saturated fat. It is also high in iron and a great source of protein. 

So my friend Julie, born in France who has been living in Australia, told me I should give kangaroo a go (how ironic). So I did, and I've gotta say it's delicious. I cooked it like a steak, with some onions. You could add garlic or other spices as well.

Now for those of you that look at this meal and put it in the too hard basket, it's not. I actually cheated just a little.

 Here's how to whip this meal up:

1. Heat a teaspoon of vegetable oil in a frying pan.
2. Chop up some onions and sautee over low heat until they go clear and lightly browned.
3. Add kangaroo, cook like you would a steak - remember you only need to turn a steak once!

4. Serve with your favourite vegies, I used some reheated frozen greens and some sweet potato superfries.

Quick and easy, Tick
Absolutely delicious? Tick
Nutritious? Tick

Price? I bought these 4 steaks for $9.74 from Coles (at $19.80/kg). I would expect to pay just as much for other red meats.

Ethical considerations

There has been a lot of debate recently about kangaroos, the killing of these animals and sustainability. There are many people out there fighting for kangaroos and asking for the culling or slaughtering of our national emblem to stop. This is an important issue that needs to be addressed, as there are many ethical and environmental issues to consider. You can read more on this here and here.

Let me know if you've tried kangaroo and your thoughts on this meat. You can also buy kangaroo pre-marinated which would be convenient to take along to a mate's barbie. Let's hope the cricket's not on...