Venison stew
Check out our warming stew with venison, sloe gin and cheesy polenta. This comforting winter recipe may take a little time, but it's definitely worth it
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 kg venison shouldercut into 5cm cubes
- 1 onionfinely diced
- 1 carrotfinely diced
- 2 sticks celeryfinely diced
- 1 bay leaf
- a few sprigs rosemary
- 2 cloves garlicsliced
- 1 tsp juniper berriesbruised
- 1 tsp black peppercornscrushed
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 250ml sloe gin
- 200ml passata
GREMOLATA
- a small bunch flat-leaf parsley
- 1 small clove garliccrushed
- 1 lemonzested plus juice of ½
- 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
POLENTA
- 200g pre-cooked polenta
- 150g parmesanfinely grated
- 100g unsalted butter
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal761
- fat36.2g
- saturates16.4g
- carbs29.1g
- sugars5g
- fibre3.3g
- protein50.4g
- salt0.6g
Method
step 1
Heat the olive oil in a large casserole dish and brown the meat in batches until well caramelised. Scoop out using a slotted spoon.
step 2
Add the onion, carrot, celery, bay leaf and rosemary to the pan with a large pinch of salt, and fry gently for 15 minutes until soft. Add the garlic, juniper berries and peppercorns, and cook for 1 minute.
step 3
Stir in the tomato purée and cook for another minute. Pour in the sloe gin, passata and 100ml of water, and return the meat to the pan. Simmer gently, with a lid, for 2 hours, then remove the lid and simmer for 1 hour until the meat is meltingly tender.
step 4
Mix together the parsley, garlic and lemon zest and juice with the olive oil and some seasoning to make the gremolata.
step 5
Heat 1.2 litres of water until simmering in a pan. Pour in the polenta and stir vigorously for 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the cheese and butter.
step 6
Serve with the stew and gremolata on top.
