Roast haunch of venison with pomegranate molasses and spices
Wild venison is one of the most delicious meats to roast at this time of year. This recipe makes the most of its rich flavour by combining it with the sweet-sour taste of pomegranate molasses, warm spices and rosemary. The season for wild fallow, roe and red deer begins on November 1st. Any good butcher will be able to supply you, otherwise I use The Wild Meat Co to buy it online – I particularly like fallow deer, which has a more gentle gamey flavour. Butterflying the leg means removing the bone and opening the meat out flat which allows it to soak in more of the marinade, shortens cooking time and makes carving very easy. You can buy it butterflied, ask your butcher to do it for you, or have a look on YouTube
Serve with rosemary roast potatoes and carrots and turnips Vichy (pictured)
Serves 6
This recipe originally appeared in House & Garden magazine, photo courtesy of Oliver Montgomery
Ingredients
For the marinade
1 red onion, thinly sliced
4tbsp pomegranate molasses
1tbsp juniper berries, crushed
1/2tsp ground cinnamon
Small bunch thyme
2 large rosemary sprigs
1/2 lemon, juiced
2tbsp olive oil
For the venison
1.5kg butterflied haunch of venison
1tbsp oil
For the sauce
150ml red wine
For the roast potatoes
1kg roasting potatoes, peeled
150ml olive oil
4 sprigs rosemary
8 garlic cloves, unpeeled
For the carrots and turnips ‘vichy’
4 large carrots
4 large turnips
50g butter
2tsp runny honey
20g parsley, finely chopped
½ tsp salt
Instructions
For the venison
- Mix all the marinade ingredients in a bowl large enough to hold the meat with 1tsp fine salt and 1/2tsp ground black pepper. Place the meat in the bowl, massage the marinade into the meat and chill for at least 6 hours or overnight. Remove from the fridge at least 1 hour before cooking.
- Heat the oven to 200°C/fan oven 180°C/mark 6.
- Remove the meat from the bowl and spread the marinade over the base of a roasting tray. Season the meat with 1tsp flaked salt. Heat the oil in a frying pan and sear the meat on both sides for a few minutes to give it some colour. Then lay it out flat in the roasting tray, on top of the marinade.
- Roast for 25–30 minutes for rare to medium rare. Remove the meat to a plate and leave for at least 20 minutes in a warm place before slicing.
- Meanwhile, add the wine to the marinade in the roasting tray. Place on the hob over a high heat and scrape the caramelised sediment with a wooden spoon. Let the sauce reduce slightly, then strain it into a warm jug. Add any juices from the resting meat to the jug before serving.
For the roast potatoes
- Cut the potatoes into 4cm chunks. Bring a saucepan of well-salted water to the boil. Add the potatoes and boil until tender, then drain.
- Heat the oven to 200°C/fan oven 180°C/mark 6.
- Choose a roasting tray big enough to fit the potatoes in one layer with some space around them. Pour the oil into the tray and heat in the oven for 5 minutes until very hot. Carefully add the potatoes, rosemary, garlic and a generous sprinkle of flaked salt.
- Roast for 25–30 minutes, until the potatoes are well browned and crisp.
For the carrots and turnips ‘vichy’
- Only peel the carrots and turnips if their skins are very tough, otherwise just scrub them clean. Cut the turnips into wedges and the carrots into wide batons.
- Put the vegetables into a pan large enough to fit them in one layer. Add the butter, honey, parsley and salt and spring water to barely cover. Bring to the boil and cook on a high heat at a rapid boil, uncovered for 10-minutes or until the carrots are tender when pierced with a knife.
- Remove the vegetables and keep warm and continue to boil the liquid to reduce to a syrupy sauce. Serve the vegetables with their reduced cooking juice poured over the top.
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