Game meats and Flax Seed Meal and Health

[coaster500]

My wife came back from having dinner at a friend’s house and raved about some cutlets they had eaten. She told me about one of the ingredients be Flax Seed Meal and then she made some use ground chicken. I notice that the texture had changed and that these cutlets were very light and moist. Hmmmmmm
I like Venison, deer, elk but at times because of the lack of fat it can be dry. I found that using the Flax Seed Meal the texture changes and it is not as dry... flax has no taste but adds good fats to the venison. I watch my health and it was a great surprise to find a way to do this without adding pork or beef fat.

Sorry for the dissertation but this was sort of a revelation for me.

The main ingredients for the cutlets with venison, fowl what ever are...  meat, egg, flax meal, grated carrot, onions and garlic seasoned in what ever direction your heart desires. You can fry, grill or broil them. You will need to experiment with the amount of flax you use.

This also works well with any wild ground meat recipe, meatballs, meatloaf, burgers etc.

I copied an article about the HEATH benefits of Flax Seed below….. Might keep me hunting a little longer…

The Flax Plant
Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is an annual plant, 18 -36 inches tall, with small and thin leaves and blue flowers. Flax seed is brown but modern varieties with golden seeds are also available. It is an ancient plant with a variety of uses. Flax stem is used as a source of fiber for textile fabric (linen), and its oil is an ingredient in paint and varnish. Besides, flaxseed meal is used as animal feed. Whole flaxseed, as ground (meal), powder, and intact seed, and oil capsule, is a source of essential fatty acids and fiber for human diet. There is growing evidence that flax seed is good for improving general health or preventing diseases.

Flaxseed Nutritional Value
Whole flax seed (ground meal, powder or intact seed) contains 28% dietary fiber, (7 – 10% soluble fiber, 11 - 18% insoluble fiber), 40% fat (73% of it being polyunsaturated fatty acids), and 21% protein. Other flax seed nutrients include vitamins E and B, phytosterols, and mineral nutrients such as calcium, iron, and potassium. More than 50% of the fat in flax seed is an essential omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which makes flax seed the richest plant source of dietary omega-3 fatty acids. Flax seed is rich in antioxidants, such as lignans (also a phytosterogen) and other phenolic molecules. Unlike the ground meal and powder, flax seed oil contains no dietary fiber.

More on nutritional profile of flax seed.

Benefits of Flaxseed in Human Health
The above list of nutrients renders flax seed to have beneficial effects on human health. The high dietary fiber in flax seed, due to its high water-holding capacity and low digestibility, increases the bulkiness and gastric emptying of stool. This in effect helps relieve constipation and other irritable bowel syndrome. Lignans, which are antioxidants, are also associated with lower serum cholesterol and may help reduce oxidative damage to cells and cellular molecules from free radicals. Flax seed may also lower blood glucose and improve insulin tolerance (diabetes). Whole flaxseed (powder and ground meal) may also reduce serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Flaxseed can also reduce some markers of inflammation, and raise serum levels of the omega-3 fatty acids, ALA.

Based on review of literature, it is suggested that consumption of ground flaxseed meal,  at a dosage of 15 - 50 gram per day, can help reduce serum total and LDL cholesterol with out meaningful change in  HDL cholesterol and tryglyceride levels. No similar benefits are reported for flaxseed oil, though.

Flax seed Diet
Flax seed can be consumed as a diet supplement in its whole seed, powder, ground (flax seed meal) or oil capsule form. Flax seed taken as oil capsule lacks the fiber and lignan components. Flaxseed is used also as an ingredient in muffin, bread, or yogurt. Flaxseed meal can be prepared easily at home or bought in the market.

Side Effects of Flax Seed Oil
There are no recorded flax seed oil side effects that inflicted harm on humans. Nevertheless, moderation is necessary. As the Dutch proverb goes “everything preceeded by the word ‘too’ is not good ”. Flaxseed may have side effects when consumed in large quantities, especially if it is uncooked. Flaxseed contains cynogenic glycosides and in uncooked flaxseed intakes amounting to more than 10 table spoons the cyanide level may reach to toxic levels. Large amount intake of flaxseed may upset hormonal balance. Studies on animals have reported birth defects. However, there is no reported danger of flaxseed on pregnancy or children. Most studies that reported health benefit of flaxseed used 5 – 10 g/day dose.

[Al Dente]

So the Flax Seed Meal was used as a breading for the cutlets, and then as a binder for burger/loaf/meatballs?  Substitution for traditional breadcrumbs?

[coaster500]

I use it as a binder, it changes the texture and has no taste of its own. I don't use as much flax meal as I would bread crumbs. I would start with a one tablespoons per 2 pounds of ground meat. Take a small amount and drop it into a pan fry and sample for texture. Everybody like things different but start small and work to your taste. I think you will be suprised  

[coaster500]

2lbs meat, one tablesoon ground flax seed, one med onion one large carrot both gratted, garlic to taste 1 or 2 eggs...  my wife likes 1/2 of a buillon cube disolved and added to the mix...  again experiment until it works for you...

[2treks]

YUMMMY!