I haven’t shopped at Waitrose for several years, not only because I prefer Lidl or Aldi prices, but also the fact there isn’t a branch in my neck of the woods since I moved counties. A local garden centre, though, has a Waitrose outlet and on a recent visit, I had a wander round, just out of interest. It turned out to be really interesting because a member of staff was replenishing the meat freezers and I spotted vacuum packs of squirrel, rabbit and woodpigeon in his restocking cart. I swooped in and grabbed a couple of rabbits and squirrels, to his amazement. 

“You eat squirrel, do you?” he queried with a grimace of disgust. 

I assured him that I did, on occasion, and that the meat is delicate and slightly sweet. He shuddered and scuttled away muttering something under his breath that I couldn’t quite catch. I don’t think it was very flattering. Still, as a friend once reassured me at a trade show when a woman accused me of murder and worse because I’d offered her some squirrel pate on a cracker – ‘Take no notice, Rosie. Come the Apocalypse, we’ll survive and she won’t’.  

Squirrel 1

I froze the ‘offending’ creatures ready for later menus, but related this anecdote for the amusement of the ladies at my art class who became ‘squirrel curious’, so I defrosted one, knocked up these nuggets and took them in for criticism. I received a nine out of ten approval rating – but I call that a result! 

Ingredients: 

Squirrel meat 
Beaten egg 
Seasoned flour – onion powder, paprika, salt, black pepper 
Panko breadcrumbs 
Salad vegetables and chips if you’re feeding hungry people 

Method: 

This is so easy, and quick to produce. Dunk small pieces of squirrel meat into the flour, to coat, then into the egg, breadcrumbs – repeat if you want a thicker, crispier coating. 

Shallow fry for a few minutes each side, until the breadcrumbs are golden, or for a healthier option, you can pop them on baking parchment and oven-bake for about 15-20 minutes on 180ºC, fan assisted. 

Squirrel 2

I serve mine to the family, accompanied by salad and chips or creamed potatoes, but you can use them for packed lunches, snacks in front of the TV, picnics – oh yes, and they freeze really well. What’s not to like?  

Top Tips: 

Works equally well with rabbit or chicken 

Squirrel 3