BISON SSAM

Serves 4

Vegetable oil
1 inch piece fresh ginger, finely grated
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 small bunch cilantro, finely chopped
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 1/2 pounds ground bison
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon fish sauce
Juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoons sambal oelek (or other chilli sauce)
Salt, to taste
Iceberg or bibb lettuce, to serve
Sliced scallions, to serve
Chopped cilantro, to serve
Chopped mint, to serve
Chopped basil, to serve
Chopped peanuts (or any nut you'd like), to serve
Wedges of lime, to serve

1. In a large skillet over medium high heat, heat a large drizzle of vegetable oil until shimmering. Add ginger, garlic, half the chopped cilantro, and shallot to the pan and cook until soft - about 4 minutes. Add the bison and cook until bison has fully browned, stirring often - about 7 minutes. Add the sugar, fish sauce, lime juice and chilli sauce and mix until all ingredients are evenly incorporated. Cook until mixture is almost dry, but not quite, about 4 minutes and season to taste with salt. Serve with lettuce cups and any of all of the fresh herbs.

SPAGHETTI WITH MOOSE RAGU

Serves 4

3 tablespoons butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, grated
2 ribs celery, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 bunch basil, finely chopped
1 1/2 pounds ground moose
4 hot Italian moose sausages, sliced
1 can whole peeled tomatoes
Crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 pound spaghetti
Sliced scallions, to garnish
Grated parmesan, to garnish

1. In a large saucepan melt the butter over medium high heat, add the onion and cook until soft. Add the carrot, celery, garlic and half the basil and cook until all the vegetables are soft, about 6 minutes. Add the ground moose and the sliced sausage and cook stirring often until the meat is browned.
2. Add the tomatoes by taking each tomato out of the can and crushing it with your hands before adding it to the pan, then add all the remaining juice from the can. Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes and bring the sauce to a simmer. Cover and cook stirring often for 40 minutes, then remove the lid and continue to cook until sauce has thickened, about another 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3. Cook pasta according to package directions, reserve 1 cup of pasta water then drain pasta and add to the sauce. Simmer the pasta in the sauce adding reserved pasta water to loosen as necessary. Season to taste with salt and pepper then serve garnished with remaining basil, sliced scallions and grated parmesan cheese.