I think I'm speaking for every Aussie household when I say that meat mince is a staple for easy midweek meals and kid favourites. It's not only cheap, fuss-free (no butchering, cutting or specialised cooking necessary to bring out the best in the meat), and a great vehicle for sauce and flavouring, but mince is also made of lots of different kinds of meat to suit any diet or lifestyle!

There's beef, chicken, turkey, lamb and pork mince — family classics! But the breadth of mince goes farther than you think with camel mince and even, the star of today's blog, buffalo mince.

Can you eat buffalo?

Buffalo, or what's called a bison in Northern America, roamed freely in large herds on the Northern American continent for centuries. Even before English ships came to the American continent, Native American tribes revered the buffalo as a symbol of strength, resilience, and survival. Alongside being an important cultural symbol, the buffalo was strategically hunted and every part of their body is used for clothes, shelter and diet. English colonisers used it for food and clothes, too, and eventually became an agricultural staple. But it's less common here in Australia. 

You may wonder, can we eat it?

We source our buffalo from Maleny Buffalo, a dairy farm that transitioned from cattle to buffalo in 2006. With regenerative farming and sustainability in mind, Maleny Buffalo mimics the cultural standards of Native Americans all of those years ago, to ensure they can have an enjoyable life and be as healthy and nourishing for us humans as they can be.

What are the benefits of eating buffalo meat? 

Buffalo was a primary food source for many tribes due to its abundance and concentrations of lean protein, essential vitamins, and minerals. While we're not limited by our natural livestock anymore, buffalo meat can still provide us with very important nutrients that we would perhaps prefer not to find elsewhere. Some of the key health benefits of consuming buffalo meat include: 

Buffalo Meat Low in Fat
Compared to traditional beef, buffalo meat is lower in saturated fat, making it a heart-healthy option for individuals looking to manage their cholesterol levels and reduce their saturated fat intake.

Nutrients in Buffalo Meat
Bison meat is packed with essential nutrients, including iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and selenium, which play crucial roles in supporting immune function, energy production, and overall well-being.

Hormone Healthy Buffalo Meat Rich In omega-3s
Some studies suggest that buffalo meat may contain higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids compared to traditional beef, which are known for their anti-inflammatory properties and potential cardiovascular and hormone maintenance benefits.

All of these benefits means that buffalo is a great alternative for those watching their cholesterol, aiming to reduce the risk of heart disease or simply looking for a way to bring further balance to their diet. 

How to Cook Buffalo Mince

Alongside being highly nutritious, lower in fat and full of protein, buffalo meat is also unique. It is slightly sweeter than its counterpart, beef, and light in flavour. It doesn't have the same gamey taste as other wild meats such as goat or camel. Its high iron content also introduces an interesting flavour, which some have described as “earthy” or “mineral". It's the perfect middle ground between a familiar taste and something unique and exciting.

Understanding how to cook and serve buffalo mince will not only give you a delicious and healthy meal, but will impress and surprise your friends and family. 

As buffalo mince is leaner than beef mince, it does not benefit as much from the long, slow cooking of chilli or bolognese. It's flavour and texture is best preserved in a dish like these buffalo burgers. 

Order buffalo mince here.