The Ultimate Guide to Cooking Venison: Tender, Flavourful, and Perfect for Winter

A seasonal game meat, venison meat is a lean and flavourful choice for winter dishes and offers an exciting change from the traditional choices of chicken and beef. At Goodies Food Hall, we source our venison locally from Gunton Park in Norfolk, renowned for its high-quality game.

Choosing the Right Cut of Venison

If you’re looking for the most tender cuts, haunch and tenderloin are a great choice. These cuts of meat are excellent when prepared as steaks or mixed into stews; you can get creative with your flavour combinations.

Less tender cuts, such as shoulder, are perfect for popping in the slow cooker for hours to get them juicy and flavourful while you sit back and relax with a mulled wine. 

Preparing Venison for Cooking

Marinating can do wonders for the tougher cuts of venison, helping to tenderise the meat and enhance its flavour. You can keep preparation simple with a basic salt and pepper rub, or you may want to be more experimental with your marinades.

Festive flavours like quince, apple, red wine, cider, and seasonal spices such as star anise and cloves tend to complement the rich and gamey venison.

Cooking Techniques for Tender Venison

Roasting – This is perfect for cooking larger cuts like haunch or loin, and who doesn’t love a roast at Christmas time? For a show-stopping venison roast, we recommend browning the meat in a frying pan first – you can use butter or oil – then cooking your cut in the oven at 200℃ for 20 minutes per kg of meat, plus another 20 minutes. That should achieve a succulent medium-rare finish.

Slow-Cooking – An easy and effective method for creating super-warming stews and casseroles, the meat will be cooked low and slow, making for the ultimate winter comfort food. 

Pan-Seared Steaks – For quick-cooking cuts, such as loin, pan-searing your steaks can help ensure top-tier tenderness and flavour.

Recipe Ideas for Winter Warmers

Need a little inspiration? Here are a few seasonal venison recipes to get you started: 

Venison stew with root vegetables – A wholesome classic, this will keep your dinner guests full in both belly and heart.

Pan-seared venison loin with a red wine reduction – Flavourful and decadent, show off your culinary flair with this simple yet impressive dish.

Slow-cooked venison casserole with herbs and spices – Perfect for family meals, this can be prepared slowly throughout the day and will be ready and waiting by dinner time.

Pairing Venison with Sides and Wine

While venison may be the main event, classic sides such as the humble roast potato, creamy mash or polenta can be the perfect accompanying carb. Add some veggies of choice, and you’re onto a winner!

When it comes to drinks, you want something that will enhance the flavours of your delicious Gunton Park venison, such as a rich red wine like Cabernet or Syrah.

Choosing the right cuts to cook with, trying out exciting marinade blends to enhance the flavours and tenderness of the meat, as well as exploring different side and wine pairings will help make your meal even more special.

Why not stop by Goodies Food Hall to pick up some delicious cuts of Norfolk venison and fresh produce, then relax in our cosy restaurant and enjoy a delicious local and sustainable winter meal?