Goat Cheese Stuffed Venison Loin Recipes

VENISON LOIN WITH CHOCOLATE INFUSED SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the venison loin in a non-reactive bowl or pan and add the red wine, bay leaves, and fresh thyme. Let marinate for 24 hours, refrigerated.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Remove the venison loin from the marinade and pat dry using paper towels. Reserve the marinade and pour it into a non-reactive saucepan. Bring to a boil and reduce over high heat until reduced by half. Add the venison stock and lower the heat to medium-low flame. Reduce again by half, then take off the heat and add the semisweet chocolate and whisk. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Keep warm.
• Combine the pecans and honey in a small bowl.
• Season the venison with salt and pepper. In an oven-safe saute pan over medium-high heat, heat 1-ounce of olive oil. Sear the loin on 1 side until golden brown and turn, then place the pan in the oven for about 8 to 10 minutes. Cook until an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the venison loin registers 130 degrees F for medium rare. Remove from pan and allow to rest.
• Meanwhile, in a saute pan over high heat, heat 1-ounce of olive oil. Add the chanterelles and season with salt and pepper. Saute for about 4 to 6 minutes or until tender, mixing gradually with a wooden spoon. Reserve.
• In another saute pan over medium-high heat, add the remaining 1-ounce of olive oil. Add garlic and saute until golden, about 30 seconds. Then, quickly add braising greens and the 4 tablespoons (or to taste) lemon juice. Saute the braising greens until tender, stirring frequently. Reserve.
• For plating: Roll the venison loin in the pecan mixture and then slice into 4 portions.
• On each dinner plate, add some chocolate sauce and then layer the braising greens, then the chanterelles, followed by the slices of venison loin. Drizzle some of the honey pecan mixture on top of the venison and garnish the plate with a sprig of thyme.

SAVORY STUFFED VENISON ROAST

Steps:

• 1. *NOTE: Beef round roast, pork loin etc... may be substituted for venison. Roast may be opened like a scroll to be rolled for slicing spirals, or opened like a book for a flat layer of stuffing inside the meat.
• 2. (Use a sharp chef's or filet knife to open roast.) Place roast on a sheet of freezer paper (or on large cutting board or clean counter.) Cover meat with sheet of plastic wrap; use smooth side of mallet to pound meat to about half of original thickness or thinner, if possible, without tearing meat.
• 3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• 4. Fry bacon in large ovenproof skillet, over medium heat, until crisp. Remove bacon to cool on a paper towel; drain off all but one tablespoon of the bacon grease from skillet. Crumble bacon; set aside.
• 5. Place skillet back over medium heat; add one tablespoon olive oil, sliced mushrooms and onions; saute about 5 minutes or until soft. Add minced garlic and saute another 30 seconds.
• 6. Add crumbled cooked bacon into the mushroom mixture. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and chopped parsley; saute another 30 seconds. Remove from heat.
• 7. Remove plastic wrap from meat. Spread mushroom mixture evenly over surface of meat for scroll cut, or over left or right 1/2 of the meat surface for book cut.
• 8. If using scroll cut, have 3 foot and a half lengths of butcher twine ready. Starting with one of the small ends, roll meat into a log. Secure with butcher twine (or toothpicks.) If using book cut, fold plain side over side with stuffing spread on it; secure with twine or toothpicks.
• 9. Sprinkle roast all over with a few pinches of salt and pepper.
• 10. Add 2 tablespoons oil to the same skillet used for mushrooms. Place over medium-high heat.
• 11. When pan is hot, carefully brown roast on all/both sides (about 2 minutes per side.)
• 12. After browning, place the uncovered skillet with roast into preheated 400 degree F oven for 1 hour. After 1 hour, lightly cover with aluminum foil, then roast for an additional 30 minutes. If using smaller cut of meat, adjust time accordingly (use meat thermometer to begin checking temp at 1/2 hour mark.) Since venison is a wild meat, I prefer to cook it to 160 degrees. Pork should reach 145 degrees, and beef at least 135 degrees in our opinion.
• 13. When desired internal temp is reached, remove from oven and allow to rest, covered snugly with foil, for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing. Serve each slice with a spoonful of pan drippings over it.