nitrofd
Retired User
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2013
- Location
- north central florida
In Florida,a gopher is a certain kind of land turtle or tortoise.it was always a mainstay of the native American tribes in central and northern Florida.In 1767 when the Minorcans arrived in St.Augustine after their failed colony near present day Daytona they developed this recipe.today the gopher turtle is on the endangered species list so no one is eating them anymore.we have a few of them on our property and they average around 6-8lbs.
3 gophers,dressed and skinned
1/4 pound bacon,diced
6 medium onions,chopped.
2 cloves garlic,peeled and chopped
1 pound of tomatoes,chopped
6 medium potatoes peeled and diced
1tsp Thyme or more to your taste
1 Datil Pepper (local to St.Augustine)
2 tbs. Flour blended till smooth with a cup of water
Cut Gopher meat into 2 inch pieces.put in large soup kettle and cover with water.Bring to a boil,reduce heat and simmer until tender(about 1 hour or longer)
Fry the bacon in large fry pan.remove bacon with slotted spoon and drain on paper.Over moderately high heat cook the onions and garlic in the bacon fat,until the onions are brown.add the tomatoes,cover,reduce heat and simmer about 45 minutes.
Add the tomato mixture to the gopher.add potatoes,bacon,Thyme and the Datil Pepper.Cover and simmer slowly an hour or longer until the gopher meat is very tender.
Bring the water in the cooking pot to a boil.slowly stir in the flour-water blend.bring again to a boil,stirring,and boil for three minutes.add salt to taste.
I found this recipe yesterday at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida.
I have more old Florida recipes that I will post in coming days.
3 gophers,dressed and skinned
1/4 pound bacon,diced
6 medium onions,chopped.
2 cloves garlic,peeled and chopped
1 pound of tomatoes,chopped
6 medium potatoes peeled and diced
1tsp Thyme or more to your taste
1 Datil Pepper (local to St.Augustine)
2 tbs. Flour blended till smooth with a cup of water
Cut Gopher meat into 2 inch pieces.put in large soup kettle and cover with water.Bring to a boil,reduce heat and simmer until tender(about 1 hour or longer)
Fry the bacon in large fry pan.remove bacon with slotted spoon and drain on paper.Over moderately high heat cook the onions and garlic in the bacon fat,until the onions are brown.add the tomatoes,cover,reduce heat and simmer about 45 minutes.
Add the tomato mixture to the gopher.add potatoes,bacon,Thyme and the Datil Pepper.Cover and simmer slowly an hour or longer until the gopher meat is very tender.
Bring the water in the cooking pot to a boil.slowly stir in the flour-water blend.bring again to a boil,stirring,and boil for three minutes.add salt to taste.
I found this recipe yesterday at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida.
I have more old Florida recipes that I will post in coming days.
Forum Host
I'm surprised they were using tomatoes as many people in the 18th century thought them poisonous. Guess they were desperate to spice up the turtle stew.
Bringing the