Main
15 minutes
Hailing from Castroville, Texas (just southwest of San Antonio), this amazing raw meat preparation incorporates cheese and, naturally, jalapeños.
This is deer camp power food and can be eaten extremely fresh off the animal. Traditionally, parisa is made with ground beef like a tartare, but I much prefer a hand chop that yields a silkier texture.
Remove any sinew or fat from the meat before you chop. Use something that is fairly tender—the loin, top round, or eye round—but there is nothing better for parisa than the tenderloin or heart. I’ll freeze the meat for about 20 minutes prior to chopping, then let the dish marinate for an hour or two before serving.
Cheddar cheese is a safe option, although I’ve used pepper jack with success, too. The olive oil is non-traditional, but I feel it gives it a better texture and added richness.
Serve this with either Ritz or saltine crackers, but never both. There are two distinct and contentious camps in the parisa cracker world, so you must pick a side. I'm on Team Ritz.
Hailing from Castroville, Texas (just southwest of San Antonio), this amazing raw meat preparation incorporates cheese and, naturally, jalapeños.
This is deer camp power food and can be eaten extremely fresh off the animal. Traditionally, parisa is made with ground beef like a tartare, but I much prefer a hand chop that yields a silkier texture.
Remove any sinew or fat from the meat before you chop. Use something that is fairly tender—the loin, top round, or eye round—but there is nothing better for parisa than the tenderloin or heart. I’ll freeze the meat for about 20 minutes prior to chopping, then let the dish marinate for an hour or two before serving.
Cheddar cheese is a safe option, although I’ve used pepper jack with success, too. The olive oil is non-traditional, but I feel it gives it a better texture and added richness.
Serve this with either Ritz or saltine crackers, but never both. There are two distinct and contentious camps in the parisa cracker world, so you must pick a side. I'm on Team Ritz.