80--- Elk Spring Rolls

My husband and his friend shot an elk a few weeks ago. Mixed feelings here: poor elk BUT yay for meat! So-- be looking forward to future elk recipes. Truth: I do not love game meat. I know that I am a Montanan, but we never had it growing up. It is somewhat an acquired taste. Therefore, you know that my recipes will not be gamey.

Elk, like buffalo, has less total fat and saturated fat then their mooing counterparts. There is also something very appealing about knowing that they have been eating whatever grows in the woods and on the prairies and not what is provided in grain bins (corn).

Elk Spring Rolls

Serves 4

16 spring roll wrappers

10 oz Maifun rice noodles, soaked for 30 minutes in warm water, drained

3 carrots, peeled and sliced into 3" strips ~1/8" thick

2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and sliced into 3" strips ~1/8" thick

2 cups baby spinach leaves, stemmed

6 oz elk tenderloin steaks, trimmed

Dipping sauce of your choice

Marinade

1/4 cup lite soy sauce

1 Tbsp Thai chili sauce

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp coriander powder

Place tenderloin steaks in marinade overnight.

Preheat a grill to medium heat. Cook steaks for ~10 minutes each side (cooking time will vary on thickness) until medium-rare. Note: avoid overcooking to reduce game flavor. When done, slice steaks into 1/4" thick slices (~2-3" long).

Soak spring roll wrappers, one at a time, in warm water for ~15 seconds or until slightly pliable. Layer soaked wrappers in between moist paper towels. I recommend having all other ingredients ready to go and set out so you can quickly start wrapping without wrappers becoming too soft (more likely to tear).

Lay moist wrapper on a plate. Fold one edge of wrapper in ~ 1 inch. Place 2 cucumber slices, 2 carrots slices, 2 spinach leaves, and 1/8 cup noodles on folded edge. Place steak slices in middle of wrapper. Starting at the folded edge, roll the wrap and seal the edge. Note: you can fold in edges as you go (like a burrito), or leave ends open.

Repeat process until all have been wrapped! Serve with hot chili sauce, sweet & sour sauce, peanut sauce, or your choice of dipping sauce!

Nutrition Info per 4 rolls: 324 calories, 8 g fat, 3.5 g saturated fat, 26 g protein, 40 g carbohydrates, 8 g fiber