Venison Scallops With Caramelized Shallots Recipes

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.

CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Peel the papery skin off the shallots, being careful to leave them whole as whole as possible.
• Put the butter into a saute pan over medium heat until it begins to bubble. Add the shallots, shaking the pan to coat them with butter, and brown on all sides until nicely caramelized to a rich, golden brown color. This will take about 6 to 8 minutes. Sprinkle with the sugar, add the salt, pepper, and stock, and bring to a boil. Pour the contents of the saute pan into a casserole or baking dish. Place into the oven for 20 minutes.
• Check after 10 minutes to stir the contents of the dish and to ensure that the liquid has not evaporated. If it has, add several tablespoons of water to keep the dish moist until the shallots have cooked completely.
• After the shallots have roasted for 20 minutes, the liquid will have evaporated and the shallots should be caramelized to a rich dark golden brown color and should be tender when pierced with a knife.

CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a 12-inch ovenproof saute pan, add the shallots and sugar, and toss to coat. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the shallots start to brown. Add the vinegar, salt, and pepper and toss well.
• Place the saute pan in the oven and roast for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the shallots, until they are tender. Season to taste, sprinkle with parsley, and serve hot.