Best Venison Chops With Shallots And Cumin Recipes

VENISON SCALLOPS WITH CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Pull the grapefruit apart into segments. Using the tip of a small, sharp knife, loosen the white membrane surrounding each segment and pull it away, trying not to pierce any of the little juice pods. Break up the segments into juice pods and set them aside.
• Trim the venison of any tendons or cartilage and slice across the grain into 1/2 inch slices. Place each one between 2 layers of plastic wrap and flatten by pounding with the flat side of a mallet until just over 1/4 inch thick. Season generously with salt and pepper. Preheat an oven to the lowest heat and place a heat proof platter inside.
• In a large, heavy skillet heat the olive oil over high heat (you may need to do this in batches). Quickly sear the venison scallops for about 1 minute on each side, then reduce the heat and cook for 1 minute more, until done to your liking (if the venison is cooked beyond the medium rare stage, it will be tough.) Transfer the scallops to the platter in the oven and cover loosely with a piece of aluminum foil.
• Wipe the skillet clean and, over medium heat, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter. Add the shallots and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until softened. Add the gin and simmer until the pan is almost dry. Add the juniper berries, venison or beef stock, salt, and cracked pepper. Increase the heat to high and simmer until the liquid has reduced by half. Add the remaining pieces of cold butter, remove the pan from the heat, and whisk until the sauce is emulsified. Taste for seasoning and stir in the grapefruit pieces. Place one or 2 venison scallops on each plate and spoon some of the sauce over the top. Serve at once.

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.

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.

SPICE-CRUSTED VENISON MEDALLIONS WITH JUNIPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Pulverize coriander seeds, cumin seeds, allspice, 1 teaspoon juniper berries and 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns in a spice grinder or mortar. Season venison with salt, and coat with ground spices. Set aside.
• Cook wine and stock together for 15 to 20 minutes, until reduced to a scant cup. Lightly crush remaining juniper berries and peppercorns, and add, with jam, brandy and gin. Simmer until jam melts. Strain through a fine sieve, and return to saucepan.
• Just before serving, heat grapeseed oil in a heavy skillet. Add venison and sauté over medium heat, turning to cook on all sides, until medium rare, about 10 minutes. An instant-read thermometer will register about 125 degrees. Do not overcook. Keep heat moderate so spices do not burn. Remove from heat.
• Over low heat, swirl butter into sauce with a whisk. Transfer venison to plates, and spoon sauce around.

VENISON CHOPS WITH MUSHROOM SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a large, heavy frying pan (cast iron is best) over medium-high heat.
• Sprinkle marjoram on each side of the chops Fry the chops on each side for approximately 5 minutes.
• Move the chops to a heated platter and place the platter in a warm (150°F) oven.
• Pour the mushroom sauce into the frying pan and scrape the bottom to loosen meat particles.
• Spoon the sauce over the chops and serve immediately.
• Mushroom Sauce-----------.
• In a small frying pan over medium heat, fry the mushrooms for 5 minutes in butter.
• Add the wine and turn the heat to high for 2 minutes.
• Lower the heat.
• Blend in the sour cream and the salt and pepper.
• Pour the mushroom mixture into the large frying pan, that you cooked the chops in and deglaze the pan.