# Alligator Meat is OK to Eat on Fridays During Lent: Here's Why and How to Prepare It

Catholics who are abstaining from meat on Fridays  have a pass when it comes to one tasty reptile.

Alligators and other reptiles can be eaten on Fridays during Lent, the archbishop of New Orleans told an inquisitive parishioner who once sent a letter to the religious leader seeking clarification, according to the Catholic News Agency.

Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond wrote in his 2010 response letter that "the alligator is considered in the fish family," the same source reported, and "is ."



## Alligator Meat is an Exception to the Rule

Since alligators are considered seafood by the church, the following explanation by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops supports Aymond's claim.

"Fish are a different category of animal. Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles (cold-blooded animals) and shellfish are permitted."

This exemption for cold-blooded animals seems to date back hundreds of years.

## Alligator Tastes 'Great'

As for , it may be a delicacy in other parts of the country, but in Louisiana it's a common ingredient in everything from jambalaya to tailgate foods.



"Alligator meat has a very mild taste and is a versatile substitute in recipes calling for veal, chicken and most seafood," according to the website for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

"A choice cuts of meat, primarily the tail and jaw, can be readily used in any recipe. The body and leg meat can be just as tasty with just a little extra preparation and special recipes. Alligator is also low in fat."

## Alligator Meat as a Popular Ingredient

Alligator meat is "full of protein" and a "sustainable" part of people's diets in Louisiana, he said.



"A lot of Louisiana chefs are 'getting more creative' about how to incorporate alligator meat in their dishes."

A popular choice in Louisiana, Cook said, is alligator wings.

He said the "perfect white meat on those little, short legs" can be chopped up into the size of traditional , deep-fried and served with hot sauce.

## Fried Alligator Bites

Fried alligator bites and alligator sauce piquant are other popular choices, Cook said.

Alligator meat is "full of protein" and a "sustainable" part of people's diets in Louisiana, he said.



A lot of Louisiana chefs are "getting more creative" about how to incorporate alligator meat in their dishes.



Alligator has become standard fare on menus and at grocery stores in Louisiana, Cook pointed out.

"It's not weird anymore," he said.

Peter Burke is a lifestyle editor with Fox News Digital.
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