Ostrich Steaks

By
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches is a grilling and barbecue expert. He has written two cookbooks.
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Updated on 12/7/22
Ostrich steaks grilled medium-rare, served in a baking dish with roasted potatoes

Dirk Albrecht / Getty Images

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Marinate: 2 hrs
Total: 2 hrs 30 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
77 Calories
3g Fat
3g Carbs
10g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 77
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 3%
Saturated Fat 1g 3%
Cholesterol 33mg 11%
Sodium 904mg 39%
Total Carbohydrate 3g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 10g
Vitamin C 2mg 9%
Calcium 19mg 1%
Iron 2mg 10%
Potassium 212mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Ostrich is a popular meat in certain parts of the world, like South Africa, and has become more readily available in the U.S. due to American ostrich farms. Ostrich meat is a lean alternative to beef, and many liken the taste to filet mignon. Although it comes from a bird, uncooked it is dark red color, a little darker than beef. However, it is not as robust in flavor as many cuts of beef. Therefore, it's best to season the ostrich steak well before cooking.

This recipe makes an ostrich steak that is very similar in flavor and texture to that of a grilled beef steak, thanks to the Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and coarse ground black pepper. The meat is coated in the seasonings and left to marinate for 2 hours before hitting the grill.

Serve as you would any type of steak, with your choice of potato and even creamed spinach on the side.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil

  • 1 teaspoon onion powder

  • 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

  • 4 (4 to 5 ounce) ostrich steaks (about 3/4 inch thick)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Combine Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, salt, olive oil, onion powder, and black pepper in a bowl.

  3. Place ostrich steaks on a plate and rub seasoning mixture onto both sides of steaks.

  4. Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for 2 hours.

  5. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Remove steaks from refrigerator and let sit at room temperature (covered) for 15 minutes as grill is heating.

  6. Once grill has heated, oil grill grates well.

  7. Place steaks on grill and cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side, depending on thickness, or until internal temperature reaches at least 150 F.

  8. Remove meat from grill and let rest for 5 to 7 minutes.

Ostrich Meat Nutrition

Ostrich meat is low in calories, fat, and cholesterol, and is high in calcium, protein, and iron. It is even leaner than skinless chicken and turkey. Also, ostrich meat is a good source of vitamin B6, vitamin B12, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium.

Other Ways to Cook Ostrich

  • Ostrich steak can be cut into cubes and used to make stew, which is part of the cuisine of South Africa. The stew can include vegetables such as onion, celery, carrots, tomatoes, along with soup stock and wine.
  • Ostrich meat is also sold ground up and can be used in any recipe calling for beef, making it perfect for chili, spaghetti sauce, lasagna, meatballs, and casseroles.
  • If you're a fan of a good burger, give this Ostrich Burger recipe a try.

Recipe Tags:

Article Sources
The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
    1. US Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central. Ostrich, round, raw. Updated April 1, 2019.