Tips on how to prepare dinner venison | Good Meals

June 5, 2024

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What’s venison?

Venison is the wealthy and flavourful meat obtained from deer. You should buy farmed venison and wild venison; the latter could have a stronger flavour. Wild venison usually comes from native fallow, muntjac or Chinese language water deer. Venison is obtainable in a variety of cuts together with loin fillet, haunch and shoulder cuts for roasting, steaks, chops, mince, burgers and sausages making it appropriate for a wide range of dishes.

Try our assortment of venison recipes for inspiration.

Is venison sustainable?

Deer for wild venison within the UK tends to be culled for environmental causes (deer populations are excessive and so they don’t have any pure predators) which makes it a low-carbon meat. It’s not solely extremely sustainable but in addition free-range.

How to decide on one of the best reduce of venison

For roasting: select complete fillet; saddle (bone in); loin (boneless saddle); haunch (again leg, both on the bone or boned and rolled); or shoulder (boned and rolled).

For grilling, barbecuing, or frying: select loin steaks (both medallions or filet mignon); shoulder steaks; or haunch steaks (topside and silverside).

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For braising and pot-roasting: select haunch (on the bone or boned and rolled); shoulder (on the bone or boned and rolled); or shank (foreleg).

For stews and casseroles: select shin or boneless shoulder.

Tips on how to fry venison

Frying venison, notably steaks or loin cuts, is a fast and easy methodology to convey out the meat’s pure flavours.

Begin by permitting the meat to achieve room temperature earlier than cooking. This makes positive the meat cooks evenly. Season the venison with salt, pepper, and another spices you want – juniper is a traditional pairing.
Warmth a frying pan over medium-high warmth. Rub the steak with a bit oil.
As soon as sizzling, place the venison within the pan. Prepare dinner for about 3-4 minutes on both sides relying on the thickness of the meat for a medium end. Add a bit butter to the pan for the final minute of cooking. Venison is leaner than beef so strive to not overcook it, or it could dry out.
Let the meat relaxation for 5 minutes earlier than serving to permit the juices to redistribute.

Tips on how to roast venison

Roasting is right for bigger cuts of venison, reminiscent of a haunch or saddle, and is a showstopper centre piece for particular events. Calculate round 200g per individual.
Warmth the oven to 200°C/190°C fan/fuel 6. Season the venison effectively with salt, pepper, and any herbs or spices you want (rosemary, thyme and juniper work effectively).
Brown the venison in a sizzling frying pan in a bit oil and butter to begin the cooking course of and add some fats to the outside of the meat.
Then, switch to the oven to roast. A basic guideline for cooking time is 20 minutes per kg for medium-rare, plus a further 20 minutes.
Let the venison relaxation, coated loosely with foil, for a minimum of quarter-hour earlier than slicing to maintain it juicy.

Roast venison sliced and sprinkled with salt

Tips on how to barbecue venison steaks, burgers and sausages

Grilling over charcoal or wooden imparts a smoky flavour to venison, making it good for summer time barbecues.
Warmth your barbecue till the coals are glowing white.
Oil the meat to cease it from sticking.
Place the venison steaks, burgers or sausages on the grill and prepare dinner for about 3-4 minutes per facet for steaks (relying on thickness) or till the burgers are cooked as you want them. Prepare dinner sausages via. Keep away from overcooking, because the lean meat can grow to be dry.

Tips on how to barbecue venison joints

Barbecuing venison joints usually entails slower cooking over oblique warmth, which is nice for bigger cuts.
Marinate your venison for a number of hours earlier than cooking to tenderise and infuse it with flavour.
When able to barbecue, guarantee your coals are sizzling and create an space of oblique warmth by transferring them to 1 facet.
Place the venison on the grill away from the direct warmth. Cowl and prepare dinner, turning often. Cooking occasions will range based mostly on the reduce and dimension of the meat, so use a meat thermometer to examine for doneness.
Relaxation the meat earlier than serving to maintain it juicy and flavourful.