Venison Chops With Pears Chestnuts And Port Wine Vinegar Sauce Recipes

THE MERCHANT OF VENISON CHOPS WITH RED WINE MUSHROOM SAUCE AND BULGUR PORRIDGE

Steps:

• Rinse venison chops and pat dry with paper towels. In a coffee grinder dedicated to spices or with a mortar and pestle, grind the juniper berries, coriander seeds, star anise, salt and peppercorns together into a powder. Rub all sides of the chops with the spice mixture. Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large saute pan (deep enough to accommodate the chops and sauce) and sear the chops, leaving undisturbed for 2 minutes on each side to allow the spices to integrate into the surface of the meat. Remove chops to a utility platter.
• In the same pan, over medium-high heat, saute the shallots until translucent. Add the mushrooms and cook until they give up their juices. Add the wine and let cook for about 5 minutes. Then reduce heat to medium-low, return the chops to the pan, cover, and let cook until the chops are tender, about 35 minutes. Transfer the chops to a platter and increase the heat under the pan of mushrooms and sauce and allow to reduce by two-thirds.
• While the chops are cooking and the sauce is reducing, prepare the bulgur porridge which was traditionally served with venison as a digestive aid. Because it is pre-steamed, it can be soaked in boiling water to make it meal-ready. Put bulgur and salt in a mixing bowl. Add 2 1/2 cups boiling water, cover and let stand for 30 minutes.
• To serve, place some bulgur porridge in the middle of each serving plate. Top with a venison chop and spoon mushrooms and sauce over and around.

PORK CHOPS WITH CABBAGE AND SHERRY VINEGAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Season both sides of pork chops with salt and pepper.
• Heat a heavy saute pan and add 1 tablespoon of butter and the oil. Over medium heat, saute the chops for 5 minutes on each side, or until slightly pink on the inside.
• Remove chops to a heated platter and pour off the excess fat. Deglaze the pan with 3 tablespoons of the vinegar and the sherry. Add the veal stock and, over moderate heat, reduce until slightly thickened. Reserve.
• Saute the bacon until crisp. Spoon off all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat and deglaze the pan with the remaining 4 tablespoons of sherry wine vinegar. Add the cabbage and stir, over high heat, until heated through. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
• Heat the sauce and whisk in the Dijon mustard and remaining 1 tablespoon butter.
• Divide the cabbage on heated plates. Place a pork chop on each bed of cabbage and nappe each chop with the sauce. Garnish with chopped tomatoes and sprinkle with chives.

VENISON CHOPS WITH SHALLOTS AND CUMIN

Steps:

• Using a heavy skillet large enough to accommodate the rack of venison, fry the bacon. Drain strips on paper towel. Cut bacon in 1/2-inch pieces and set aside. Brush venison with some of the bacon fat. Leave 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat in the pan and discard the rest. Mix 1 1/2 teaspoons of the cumin with the pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Rub the spices on the meat and let rest 1 hour. Cook the shallots in the remaining fat in the pan on medium heat until lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove shallots from the pan and set aside.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Using the skillet or another pan big enough to hold the rack of venison, place the venison in the pan, bone side down, and roast 20 minutes. Test with an instant-read thermometer. It should register 115 degrees for medium rare to rare. If more doneness is desired, leave the venison in the oven another 5 minutes. But it will start to toughen if cooked more than medium rare.
• Remove venison from the pan and place on a cutting board to rest while you prepare the sauce. Lightly toast the remaining 1/2 teaspoon cumin in the pan. Add the stock and the wine. Whisk in the mustard and thyme. Cook on medium high until the liquid has reduced to a scant 1/2 cup, just about covering the bottom of the pan. Lower heat and whisk in the butter bit by bit. Add additional salt if desired. Stir in the reserved bacon and shallots.
• Slice the rack into individual chops between the bones and arrange on a platter. Spoon the sauce with the shallots and bacon over the meat and serve.