June 1, 2018

Hunting wild hogs on 4 Amigos Ranch is not only a chance to create Texas-sized memories and wild stories that will make you a hit at parties for years to come. It’s also an opportunity to fill your fridge with hog meat. Chowing down on unique, all-natural game that you hunted and shot yourself is about as rugged as it gets, but don’t overlook the surprising nutritional benefits of adding wild boar to your diet.

Hog Meat Benefits

For starters, hog meat is lean, with one-third less fat, calories, and cholesterol than pork. It also has more protein than most of the meat you’ll find in the cooler at the supermarket – in fact, it packs more power per punch than pork, beef, lamb or chicken. According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, raw wild boar has 104 calories, 2.8 grams of fat (0.8 grams saturated), and 18.3 grams of protein, to be exact.

But just because it’s good for you doesn’t mean you’re sacrificing flavor. Hog meat is somewhat sweet and nutty, but not gamey or greasy. Wild hogs eat acorns, hickory nuts, pecans, grass, roots and apples, which gives the meat a one-of-a-kind flavor profile that makes it unlike anything else you’ve eaten.

If you need ideas to prepare it, just like pork, the possibilities are endless—from wild boar bacon to ribs to tacos. If you have the patience, you can even turn it into salami, and serve it at your next party with a side of bragging rights.