I am lucky to live in a place where wild venison from red deer is readily available. This year I have bought my venison from South Uist Estates. We’ve now got rather a lot in the freezer, and the Christmas Day menu is sorted.
Tonight I made a casserole using the recipe in The Game Cook by Norman Tebbit. I did add a few variations, couldn’t help myself. It was very very good.
INGREDIENTS:
- 900g shoulder of venison, diced
- 100g smoked pancetta, or streaky bacon cut into 1cm cubes
- 2 tbsp plain flour, seasoned with salt and pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 25g butter
- 1 white onion, finely chopped
- 2 sticks of celery, finely chopped
- 1 large carrot, diced
- 1 clove of garlic, crushed
- 300ml stock
- 150ml red wine
- 100g mushrooms, roughly chopped
- Bouquet garni (I used the mystery herbs with added bayleaves)
- a couple of good shakes of Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
MARINADE INGREDIENTS:
- 150ml red wine
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp brandy or rum
- 1 medium red onion, finely chopped
- 6 black peppercorns
- Peel of 1/4 orange, shredded
METHOD:
- Put all of the marinade ingredients in a plastic box with a secure lid. Add the venison, shake it all around to mix, and then leave overnight in the fridge.
- Preheat the oven to 170C
- Take the venison out of the marinade, wipe off the chopped onion and orange, and set aside. Strain the marinade and save that as well.
- Heat the oil and butter together in a large casserole dish, and gently fry the pancetta. Once it starts cooking, add the chopped onion, carrot, garlic and celery, and continue to cook until the vegetables are beginning to brown.
- Toss the venison in the seasoned flour, and then add the flour, herbs and meat to the pan. Keep stirring the meat in the pan until it starts to brown.
- Once the mixture is really dry, add the marinade, the red wine and the stock, a good splash of Worcestershire sauce, and bring to the boil and reduce to a simmer. The liquid should cover the vegetables and meat.
- Add the mushrooms, check for seasoning, and then put the casserole into the oven for a couple of hours.
Serve with mashed potato, and a green vegetable. Try adding celeriac to the mash, or serving with roasted parsnips.