Bringing buffalo and bison meat, yogurt, and cheese into the kitchen is a delicious way to elevate your everyday cooking—and it’s just as versatile as beef. The best part: the host of nutritional and environmental benefits that buffalo and bison deliver, along with the rich, nourishing taste their meat and dairy deliver.
The nutritional density of bison and buffalo meat boasts iron, zinc, B vitamins, ample protein, as well as a variety of beneficial fatty acids. Fat from the buffalo, in particular, delivers nutraceuticals: potent nutrients in humans with anticarcinogenic and cardioprotective abilities.
From an environmental standpoint, grass-fed buffalo and bison rearing supports plant and animal biodiversity. In fact, bison are considered a keystone species, positively influencing the ecosystem around them through their day-to-day grazing and overall lifecycle. With their open pasture roaming and feeding, as well as adaptability to cold temperatures, they offer a reduction in our environmental footprint when choosing these meat and dairy products over grain-fed beef.
Home cooks searching for new-yet-familiar options to beef will enjoy the rich flavor bison and buffalo products offer. The leaner meat is deeply red in color, thanks to its rich iron stores, but still remains tender. Fueling protein intake goals while getting a burst of nutrition, bison and buffalo are easier to digest, leaving you feeling fueled up, not weighed down.
For those who want richness, dairy is another buffalo product to try. Buffalo dairy consists of A2 milk protein, meaning their milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter skips the harder-to-digest A1 version for a happier belly.
Containing more fat than cow dairy (about double the percentage of whole cows’ milk), buffalo dairy is filling and flavorful, supporting kids, adults, and seniors looking for replenishment.
The higher fat content and rich mineral profile turn it into a nutritional powerhouse in the kitchen, whether you’re enjoying it as-is (think buffalo-milk yogurt with your granola) or in any cooking or baking you have planned.
From simple muffin incorporating bone-building buffalo yogurt to classic spaghetti and meatballs using ground bison, the following creations will uncomplicate this lesser-known and highly nutritional red meat.
Bakery-Style Buffalo Yogurt Morning Glory Muffins
Naturally sweetened with dates, this new take on a cafe classic incorporates a variety of nourishing ingredients, including carrots, apples, nuts, seeds, and high-protein buffalo yogurt, which keeps these muffins tender.
Buffalo Mozzarella Toasts with Roasted Tomatoes and Fruit
Buffalo milk cheese (mozzarella or feta), roasted cherry tomatoes, and fruit top sourdough toasts for a breakfast, snack, or BBQ side that’s both savory and sweet.
Italian Sheet-Pan Bison Meatballs with Spaghetti
Gluten-free almond flour is the trick to keeping these bison meatballs tender and juicy. This riff on spaghetti and meatballs gets a healthy makeover with simple ingredient swaps. With familiar flavors, it’s great for cooks looking to try bison or buffalo for the first time.
Thai Bison and Vegetable Noodle Bowls
Like a spring roll in a bowl! Thai-inspired flavors boost this meat and veggie-packed dinner that’s ready in about 30 minutes. Served with gluten-free ramen or on your favorite rice, it’s a colorful, weeknight-friendly meal that highlights the versatility of bison.
Bison Steaks with Caper-Lemon Buffalo Yogurt Sauce
Like a spring roll in a bowl! Thai-inspired flavors boost this meat and veggie-packed dinner that’s ready in about 30 minutes. Served with gluten-free ramen or on your favorite rice, it’s a colorful, weeknight-friendly meal that highlights the versatility of bison.
This collection originally appeared on alive.com as “From Pasture to Plate.”
