Groundhog Tacos W/ Pickled onions & White sauce

Continuing the tradition of cooking Groundhog on Groundhog Day... This year we are doing tacos!

Ingredients: 

1lb - Groundhog (Ground or diced)

Cilantro

Queso Fresco

Pickled onions

Mexican white sauce

tomatoes (Diced)

Lettuce (Chopped) 

1 T - Jivin' Hive

1 t - Cumin

1 pk - Tortillas 

Method:

Before prep: I prefer to make my own pickled onions and white sauce, if you want to take some steps out or make this recipe a little easier you can always go pre-made!

• Prepare the Smoker:

  • Preheat your Humphrey’s smoker to about 225°F. You can use your favorite wood chunks or chips for smoking; fruit woods like apple or cherry work well with ground meat, providing a subtle sweet smokiness.

• Season the Groundhog:

  • In a bowl, mix the groundhog with 1 tbsp Jivin' Hive (for a sweet and spicy kick) and 1 tsp cumin. If you want a little more heat, feel free to add chili powder or cayenne pepper.

• Smoking the Groundhog:

  • Place the seasoned groundhog on the smoker. Cook for about 1.5-2 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent over-drying. You want the meat to absorb the smokey flavors and cook through until it's tender.

• Prepare the Toppings:

  • While the meat is smoking, prepare your taco toppings. Chop the lettuce and dice the tomatoes.
  • Pickled onions should be ready to go.
  • Crumble the queso fresco and chop the cilantro for garnish.
  • Prepare a small bowl of Mexican white sauce (if store-bought, just give it a good stir). If you’re making it from scratch, you can mix sour cream, lime juice, and a touch of garlic.

• Assemble the Tacos:

  • Warm the tortillas on the smoker or a hot skillet for a few seconds on each side until they're soft and slightly charred.

  • Once the groundhog is smoked and cooked, remove it from the smoker and shred or chop it further if needed.

  • To assemble each taco:

    1. Add a generous spoonful of the smoked groundhog meat.
    2. Top with diced tomatoes, chopped lettuce, pickled onions, and a sprinkle of queso fresco.
    3. Drizzle with Mexican white sauce and garnish with fresh cilantro.

• Serve and Enjoy:

  • Serve the tacos with a wedge of lime on the side for extra zest, and perhaps some hot sauce for added heat. Add a margarita on the side for... well, just because! 

We hope you enjoy this year's recipe! If you make our take on Groundhog tacos, please tag us or use #Humphreysrecipes!