Best Biltong Recipes

SOUTH AFRICAN BILTONG

Steps:

• Cut the beef into strips about 4cm thick. Pack the meat into a smallish bowl, so that it fits tightly.
• Add the vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. Leave for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix the coriander and pepper together in another bowl.
• In a third bowl, mix the salt, sugar and bicarbonate of soda together.
• Remove the meat from the marinade, but reserve the marinade for later use.
• Add the beef to the bowl of spices, mixing it around until evenly coated. Save any spices that don't stick.
• Bury the spiced beef in the salt and the sugar mixture and leave it for 3 hours.
• Remove the beef from the brine and dip it back into the reserved vinegar marinade for another 5 minutes.
• Remove the beef from the marinade and using the vinegar, wash all the salt off (don't skip this bit or the biltong will be unbearably salty).
• Squeeze the beef to remove as much liquid as possible. Roll in the spices once more. The meat is now ready for hanging.
• Cut lengths of string, and tie them tightly around one end of each beef strip. Tie the string to the top of your hanging contraption and make sure that they hang freely without touching anything on the sides or bottom.
• Leave the strips hanging for 3-20 days in a warm, dry place. It is difficult to say exactly how long it will take for the biltong to reach the correct stage, it's basically when the meat is as tough as old boots!

BILTONG

Steps:

• Cut the meat into strips about 2 cm x 3 cm (3/4-inch x 1 1/4-inches). Roast the coriander seeds in a dry frying pan to bring out the flavour. Crush lightly with a pestle and mortar and mix with the salt and pepper. Sprinkle a little into a glass dish, top with a layer of meat strips, and season once more. Continue this way until meat and seasoning are used up.
• Refrigerate for a day, mixing every couple of hours so that the meat flavours evenly.
• Hang up to dry in a suitable spot (high in the garage rafters or behind the fridge where there is some movement of air). Straightened paper clips make handy fasteners!
• Drying time is about 5 days, depending on the weather, and whether you prefer your biltong crisp or slightly moist.

BILTONG

Steps:

• Trim excess fat off the meat.
• Slice meat along the grain no thicker than 1.5cm.
• Cut those slices into strips of 3-5cm wide.
• Combine sugar, baking soda and black pepper.
• Roast coriander in a pan over a medium heat for 2 minutes and then crush it fine.
• Mix into the sugar mixture.
• Pour vinegar into a flat dish and drag meat strips through the vinegar coating them well.
• I use my cooler box for this next step in the process: sprinkle a handful of salt over the bottom of the cooler box and cover with a layer of meat strips.
• Sprinkle the meat with a layer of salt and then the spice mixture.
• Keep layering the meat, salt and spices finishing with a layer of salt and spices.
• Close cooler box and leave to stand for 24 hours.
• Discard any left over vinegar.
• When you open the cooler box, there will be a lot of water drawn from the meat and the salt should be dissolved.
• Take the meat out of the cooler and place on a tray.
• Remove any large pieces of salt that may still be on the meat.
• It is your choice if you still want to pat the meat dry, I never do.
• Discard the water in the cooler.
• Using a paperclip opened to resemble an "S", hook each meat strip and hang to dry.
• I use a biltong box because the biltong is dry within 3 days of hanging - conventional methods take much longer.

BEEF JERKY BILTONG FLAVOURING

Steps:

• Mix the Pepper, coriander, salt and brown sugar together thoroughly.
• Slice the meat into 1 cm thick slices about an inch wide.
• Place a layer of meat in a plastic container and sprinkle lightly with the vinegar.
• Sprinkle the spices over the top of the meat without completely drowning it.
• Place another layer of meat on top of the first and repeat the vinegar and spices steps until all the meat is used up.
• Leave in the fridge for 3 hours
• Remove and mix it all up thoroughly so that all the spices are evenly spread through the meat.
• Drain any excess fluids from the container and return to the fridge for a further three hours. The longer it stays in the fridge the stronger the spice flavours become.
• Remove and place in your dehydrator until dried to your satisfaction. (12 to 24 hours in my dehydrator).
• Eat and enjoy.

BEEF BILTONG CHILLI & SMOKED CHEDDAR

Steps:

• Put the biltong in a food processor and blitz to a powder as fine as you can make it. Tip into a bowl and set aside. Scatter the onion in a dry saucepan and cook over a low heat for about 30 mins until very dark and soft, adding a little oil if needed to stop it burning. Meanwhile, heat the 2 tbsp oil in a wide pan and crumble in the mince. Cook on a low heat for 30 mins - it will release lots of liquid, which needs to evaporate, then eventually it will sizzle in its own fat. If the pan becomes too dry, drizzle in a little more oil. Towards the end of the cooking time, stir the mince until it becomes speckled with crisp brown bits. Mix in the cumin, coriander and chipotle paste, then stir in the stock, bring to a simmer and cook for 10 mins.
• Tip the caramelised onions into the food processor (no need to wash it) and blitz until smooth. Add the onion purée to the chilli along with most of the biltong and the beans. Stir and simmer for 20 mins until rich and thick. Season with the lime juice and cayenne, and keep on a low heat for a few mins more.
• Ladle the chilli into a bowl and sprinkle over the cheese, the remaining biltong, sliced jalapeños and a little puffed rice. Finish with the lime zest and coriander leaves. Serve with tortilla wraps or over brown rice.