Wild Boar Steak, 8oz

Wild Boar Steak 8oz is an 8oz wild boar steak — a lean, intensely flavoured cut that suits quick, high-heat cooking. Unlike the slower cuts, the steak comes from a more tender part of the animal. However, it is still considerably leaner than a domestic pork steak. As a result, it benefits from a brief marinade before cooking and should never be overcooked. In particular, a medium result — still slightly pink in the centre — produces the finest flavour and texture.

About Wild Boar — The Original Pork

Wild boar is the ancestor of all domestic pigs. It roams freely across forests and woodland across Europe. Furthermore, it is the original source of the pork flavours that selective breeding has steadily diminished. However, wild boar has never been domesticated in the same way. As a result, it retains a depth of flavour and a muscular, well-exercised character that domestic pork simply cannot replicate. In particular, the meat is darker — a deep, almost mahogany red — reflecting the animal’s active lifestyle and natural, foraged diet. Furthermore, the fat is distributed differently from domestic pork. It is leaner overall, but what fat there is carries an intense, nutty, woodland character. Additionally, wild boar has a lower cholesterol content than standard pork. This makes it a genuinely nutritious as well as exceptional-tasting choice.

The wild boar used by The Artisan Food Company is sourced from carefully managed populations. In particular, it is humanely culled in season, handled with care and butchered to a high standard. As a result, the quality is consistently excellent throughout the year. Furthermore, wild boar benefits from slow, gentle cooking in most preparations. The muscular meat responds beautifully to braising, marinating and long, slow roasting. However, thinner cuts such as steaks can also be cooked quickly over high heat. In contrast to domestic pork, wild boar should never be overcooked. It has less intramuscular fat to keep it moist, so precision matters. Moreover, a brief marinade in red wine, juniper and herbs adds an extra layer of complexity. In particular, this complements the wild flavour perfectly.

How to Cook & Serve

To get the very best from Wild Boar Steak 8oz:

• Marinate for at least 2 hours in olive oil, garlic, juniper berries and fresh thyme.
• Bring to room temperature and season generously with sea salt before cooking.
• Cook in a very hot, dry pan for 3 to 4 minutes per side — wild boar steak is best served medium.
• Rest for 5 minutes before serving — however, do not rest for too long as the lean meat cools quickly.

Perfect Pairings

Wild Boar Steak 8oz pairs beautifully with:

• A red wine and juniper pan sauce made from the resting juices
• Sautéed wild mushrooms — cep, chanterelle or girolles — alongside
• A full-bodied Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo or a southern Rhône blend
• Roasted root vegetables or a simple watercress salad dressed with walnut oil

Storage: Keep refrigerated and use by the date shown. Remove from packaging 20 minutes before cooking and allow to come to room temperature. Wild boar also freezes very well — freeze on the day of delivery for best results. Furthermore, defrost slowly in the fridge overnight rather than at room temperature. Delivered fresh and chilled, ready to cook.

However you cook it, Wild Boar Steak 8oz brings a depth of flavour to the table. It is quite unlike anything from a domestic pig. Moreover, it is an ingredient that rewards those who take the time to cook it well.