Roast Venison - An Easy, Straightforward Guide On Roasting Venison Cuts (2024)

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Make this easy roast venison recipe for any upcoming celebrations. It's perfect for celebratory occasions such as birthdays, festive feasts and more.

Roast Venison - An Easy, Straightforward Guide On Roasting Venison Cuts (1)

This 'cook to impress' gourmet roast venison recipe is simpler than it looks. We all know that roasting meat is a delicate matter and involves a lot of patience.

However, that's all there is to this roast venison. If you make a lovely venison marinade to go along, your roast venison will yield the most tender meat ever.

With heavier meats such as venison or other game, I recommend pairing them with a lighter side dish. Although, you can opt for a luscious sweet potato mash accompanied by a lovely full bodied red wine.

If you have any leftover venison, you can pair the remaining meat with a salad, too. Enjoy mastering this roast venison recipe and let it become the family favourite for the holidays!

easy venison roast recipe

For those of you who are still unsure what venison is, let me explain. Simply put, venison is the meat of a deer. It refers to any cut of meat that comes from the deer.

The roast cut is the best for this venison roast recipe. The roast cut of the deer is generally taken from the hindquarters. However, another popular cut for roasting is leg of venison. For this recipe, you will learn how to roast a haunch of venison.

If you are wondering what venison tastes like – it is rich. You might also detect earthy flavours as well as notes of sage and acorn. These are the herbs that the deer consumes throughout its life, so it is no surprise to find hints of them in the flavour of the meat.

Lastly, if this is your first time eating venison, don't expect it to be as juicy as a cut of beef. Because although venison is smoother and firmer, it is less juicy.

As a general rule, most cuts of different types of meat are excellent for slow-roasting. Just take a look at these and tempt yourself with other slow-roast recipes such as:

  • 7 hour slow-roast shoulder of lamb - worth the wait!
  • Indian roast leg of lamb - a different take on traditional winter roast recipes.
Roast Venison - An Easy, Straightforward Guide On Roasting Venison Cuts (2)

how to serve roast venison

First and foremost, before you cut a slice – you have to let the venison rest. The juices inside the meat must rest, otherwise the roast venison will lose all of its moisture.

Give it some time and let the juices incorporate into the meat. After a couple of minutes, cut the venison into thin, 1 cm slices. Continue this process as evenly as possible for all the slices.

A fair warning though. Don't slice up the entire roast meat. Just slice through a half or as needed, depending on the number of people you are serving.

If you do slice up the entire meat, the meat will cool down quicker and won't be as tender. Plus you lose a bit of the theatre and the overall wow effect of a winter roast recipe.

Once you are done slicing, cover the venison with aluminum foil so that no more heat escapes!

best side dishes for roast venison

Let's start with the traditional sides that one generally expects to see with heavier meats. You can choose from the following traditional sides for roast recipes:

  • roasted sweet potato mash - sweet and creamy mash that's worthy of eating out of a serving bowl.
  • rosemary roast potatoes - one of the classic side dishes that pair with everything!
  • sweet potato gratin - a filling and cheesy side that's so sinful but delish!
  • potato bacon and brie tartiflette - is so filling that you can also eat it alone as it is!

For lighter side dishes for this venison roast, you can consider the following:

  • cumin roast carrots - feel free to leave out the cumin spice and substitute with rosemary or thyme.
  • roasted pumpkin, red peppers and onion - a recipe which includes a sweet balsamic and mustard dressing.
  • vegan cauliflower mash - is light as air and low on calories.
  • carrot and turnip mash - a lighter alternative to those filling carb-heavy mashes!

So many to choose from and all equally delicious! Feel free to make more than one side dish for the venison roast. Your guests will be delighted to have a varied selection.

Roast Venison - An Easy, Straightforward Guide On Roasting Venison Cuts (3)

wine pairing for roast venison

To respect the integrity and full umami flavour of the meat, you should definitely pair the roast venison with a red wine. The red wine should have origins from a sunny country.

The more sun the better! I recommend going for a full-bodied Californian Cabernet Sauvignon. More specifically, something from Napa Valley, California will have loads of body as well as gorgeous vanilla and marmalade aromas.

Although the Californian wines might be too heavy for wine lovers, they pair perfectly with roast recipes. Besides, you can easily purchase red wines from Napa Valley, California.

If you'd rather have a different wine originating from elsewhere, then I recommend going for a red wine from the South of France. Try a red wine from the Languedoc region in France. They are well-balanced and hold bold full-bodied flavours which are very enjoyable.

Just don't pair this recipe with a white wine or a rose wine. It has to be a full-bodied, heavy dry red wine!

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leftover roast venison

It wouldn't surprise me if you end up with some leftovers as venison cuts can be rather large. Another factor is that venison can be quite filling, especially when combined with heavy sides.

If you have some pieces of meat for the next day, you can easily reheat them in the microwave. Next, whip up a simple garden salad or a .

In fact, if you are feeling slightly lazy, you won't even need to worry about heating up the pieces of roast venison. Although it might not be juicy, the meat will definitely not be chewy.

The choice is yours! How will you eat your leftover pieces of roast venison?

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Roast Venison

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  • Author: Michelle Minnaar
  • Total Time: 1 hours 30 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x
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Description

Master this easy roast venison recipe and learn how to roast a haunch of venison! Combine with herbs such as rosemary and pair with festive side dishes.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 2kg (4lbs) venison haunch
  • 6 garlic cloves, peeled and halved
  • 2 rosemary sprigs, cut into 2.5cm (1 inch) pieces
  • 80ml (⅓ cup) olive oil
  • 30ml (2 tbsp) butter
  • 4 onions, peeled and sliced
  • 250ml (1 cup) venison stock
  • 30ml (2 tbsp) blackcurrant preserve

Instructions

  • Remove the venison from the fridge and leave for 30 minutes to let the meat reach room temperature.
  • Make small incisions evenly across the venison and insert a garlic piece or rosemary sprig in each hole.
  • Preheat the oven to 230℃(450°F).
  • Fry the onions in the butter until softened.
  • Arrange the onions in the centre of a roasting dish.
  • Place the venison on top of the onions and pour the oil over the meat, ensuring to cover all areas of the meat.
  • Season liberally with salt and pepper.
  • Roast the meat for 20 minutes in the oven, then remove from the heat.
  • Lower the oven setting to 180℃(350°F) and wait for the oven to reach the correct temperature.
  • Meanwhile, baste the venison with the oil and juices collected at the bottom of the pan.
  • Roast the meat for 25 minutes and check the meat’s internal temperature with a meat thermometer. If you want rare you need 52℃(125°F). Closer to medium is 55℃(130°F). It’s better to go too raw than overcooked because you can simply return the meat to the oven in case of the former.
  • When the meat has been cooked to desired doneness, let it rest for at least 20 minutes but preferably 30 minutes, before carving.
  • While the meat is resting, pour the onions and cooking juices in a saucepan.
  • Pour in the stock and preserve and let the mixture reach a bubbling point.
  • Blend the contents in a food processor until smooth.
  • Serve slices of venison with typical Sunday roast trimmings such as roast potatoes, honey glazed carrots, buttered sprouts and the sweet onion gravy.

Notes

  • Venison stock isn’t readily available so you can use beef stock or red wine instead.
  • Venison doesn’t fare well when cooked to well done. It’s a lean meat that will dry out and become stringy. So if it’s reached 63℃(145°F) you killed it.
  • Add more stock if you’d like to thin the sauce.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hours
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: Scottish

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 511
  • Sugar: 2.4 g
  • Sodium: 23 mg
  • Fat: 16 g
  • Saturated Fat: 3.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 6.1 g
  • Fiber: 1.4 g
  • Protein: 77.8 g
  • Cholesterol: 8 mg

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Roast Venison - An Easy, Straightforward Guide On Roasting Venison Cuts (2024)

FAQs

What is the best cut of venison for roasting? ›

For roasting, choose whole fillet; saddle (bone in); loin (boneless saddle); haunch (back leg, either on the bone or boned and rolled); or shoulder (boned and rolled). For grilling, barbecuing, or frying, choose loin steaks (either medallions or filet mignon); shoulder steaks; or haunch steaks (topside and silverside).

What temperature should venison roast be cooked at? ›

Cook to a minimum of 160 degrees F.

How do you cook venison so it's not tough? ›

so don't overcook them you want them to be like rare plus medium rare so hot and fast. and then if you have tougher cuts like large roasts to meat. you're gonna wanna raise those low and slow. so add some liquid and cook until they're really tender.

Does venison get more tender the longer it cooks? ›

The tough fibers and connective tissue break down into collagen, which then dissolves into gelatin. Over time, these fibers expel moisture, leaving the meat dry. Once the meat is dry, upon continued cooking, the fibers will relax and begin to absorb the fat and gelatin, creating tender, flavorful meat.

What is the best cut of deer for roasting? ›

Rump – Best for Pot Roast and Stews

The rump offers a small piece of muscle, best for pot roast and stew meat. It can also be ground for burger, chili and sausage. The size and quality of the cut will also depend on how careful you were when cutting the hindquarters from the deer.

What do you soak a deer roast in before cooking? ›

Place Roast in a shallow pan and cover with the milk. Soak over night at least 8 hours. This process removes the blood which causes the roast to have that wild unwanted flavor. Rinse off the milk and rinse out the pan, next place the roast back in the clean shallow pan and add the Italian dressing.

How do you make deer meat super tender? ›

Put your venison roast in a Crock-Pot. Maybe throw in a few onions. Dump in a can of Cream of Mushroom soup and let it cook all day long.

What takes the gamey taste out of venison? ›

The distinct game flavor of either birds or animals will be milder after soaking the meat overnight in the refrigerator in either a salt or vinegar solution. 2. Vinegar solution - 1 cup per quart of cold water. Use enough solution to cover the game completely.

Should you wash deer meat before cooking? ›

Washing deer meat

Rinsing deer meat or venison before cooking is not recommended by food safety agencies. Like other meats, washing venison can spread contamination in a kitchen.

Will baking soda tenderize venison? ›

For 2 to 3 pounds of venison meat, use a tablespoon of baking soda and a quart of water. Pour the mixture over the meat and seal it in a container, then refrigerate. Stew meats and smaller cuts of venison might require overnight soaking, while roasts and ribs should sit in the refrigerator for at least two days.

Do you cook deer meat fast or slow? ›

Tender cuts of venison should be prepared using quick cooking methods to a rare or medium-rare level of doneness (internal temperature of 120° to 135° F). If it is prepared past medium-rare too much moisture will be cooked out causing the meat to become dry and tough.

How do you make a venison roast not taste gamey? ›

Here are three easy steps to removing the gamey taste from venison:
  1. Remove scent glands before field dressing. There are lots of scent glands in a deer but the important gland to remove is the tarsal gland. ...
  2. Remove all fat and sinew when butchering. ...
  3. Season and cook your venison.
Feb 22, 2024

What is the most tender cut of venison? ›

The tenderloin, striploin, knuckle and rump are the most tender cuts. Medium-tender cuts are the eight rib rack, top round and bottom round. The flank steak and osso buco are the least tender. Less tender cuts generally require slower cooking.

What is the perfectly cooked venison? ›

It's lean, don't over cook it

Elk and Venison are very low in fat and is best served medium-rare. This equates to an internal temperature of 135°F if you're using a meat thermometer.

Why is my venison roast tough? ›

Why does my venison always come out tough? If you find that your roasts always come out sort of rubbery, dry or hard, it's likely because you're not cooking long enough and at a low enough temperature. If you're using a slow cooker you want to cook your meat on low for 8-9 hours, or until falling-apart tender.

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