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Yes, you read that title correctly. Rattlesnake. Pizza. Hssssssssssss.
I'm still looking for ways to use up all the ingredients I picked up while I was at Jungle Jim's a few weeks ago, next up on the weird recipe list: canned rattlesnake.
Well, smoked canned rattlesnake. Finding such a thing at an Ohio grocery store - well you'd be hard pressed to find it anywhere other than Jungle Jim's. But apparently, it's a delicacy across southern states, where the rattlers roam free.
The one thing that I didn't realize about rattlesnake, for whatever reason, is that these things are boney. I mean, they are basically long ribcages after all. Per the instructions on the side of the can - that advised it's best enjoyed once the bones are picked out - I managed to pull out several still-connected vertebra and probably hundreds of tiny rib bones.
I was able to salvage about a 1/2 cup of rattlesnake meat, once all the bones were removed. Next time I attempt to eat snake, I'll probably get the fresh stuff...minus the bones.
Because this pizza is already going way beyond your typical pizza, I started the pizza sauce with a base of fresh pico, but the jarred stuff works just as well for a nice spicy sauce.
Jungle Jim's also has some pretty spectacular homemade pizza dough, which naturally I grabbed several bags of because as much as I love pizza, I hate making the dough from scratch. This way, it's close enough and half of the effort!
Of course, no pizza is truly complete without a nice garlicky, buttery crust. Poke some holes in it so that it doesn't puff up a ton. I also prebake my crusts for about five minutes before putting the toppings on - wouldn't want a soggy bottom.
I topped my pizza with fresh handmade mozzarella, roasted garlic and fresh sweet peppers. Though of course, the rattlesnake was the star of this dish - it tastes almost like sausage, so surprisingly it actually tasted pretty great on the pizza! Rattlesnake may just be the most unusual topping ever I've had on a pizza - but I seriously can't wait to try it again!
