Succulent braised venison recipe | Good Food

Succulent braised venison

2 carrots
roughly chopped
140g turnip
or swede, roughly chopped
2 onions
roughly chopped
3 celery sticks
roughly chopped
olive oil
and butter, for frying
1 garlic clove
crushed
1kg boned leg or shoulder of venison
cut into large chunks (or buy ready-cubed venison for stewing)
5 tbsp plain flour
seasoned with salt and pepper
2 tbsp redcurrant jelly
(or rowan or hawthorn jelly)
450ml dry red wine
(Rioja is good)
450ml beef stock
2 thyme sprigs
1 bay leaf

Method

step 1
Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Fry the vegetables in a little oil and butter in a heavy-based casserole for 4-5 mins until golden. Tip in the garlic and fry for a further min, then set aside.
step 2
Put the venison into a plastic bag with seasoned flour and shake to coat. Add a little more oil and butter to the pan, then fry the venison over a high heat, stirring now and then, until well browned. Don’t crowd the pan – cook in batches if necessary. Set aside with the vegetables.
step 3
Add the redcurrant jelly and wine to the pan, and bring to the boil, scraping up all the bits that have stuck to the bottom. Pour in the stock, then add the thyme, bay leaf, meat and vegetables. Season if you like and bring to the boil. Cover and transfer to the oven for about 1½ hrs or until tender. Remove from the oven and check the seasoning.