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6 Venison Recipes to Celebrate the Holidays With

Make use of that deer and elk meat sitting in your freezer by cooking up one of these holiday-worthy venison recipes this season

6 Venison Recipes to Celebrate the Holidays With
Elderberries have a tart, earthy taste that make a fantastic syrup to use on venison. (Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley photo)
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There’s always a little bit of stress that comes with the holiday season, but we’re here to take some of that stress away. No need to spend hours on the web searching for a dish to cook this year because we’re gifting you some of the tastiest venison recipes we could find. You worked hard for your venison, so put it to good use with these holiday-inspired dishes that are worth celebrating over.

Venison With Elderberry Pan Sauce Recipe

The elderberry pan sauce in this recipe tastes amazing with the venison.

Ingredients:

  • 4 venison steaks
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Freshly cracked pepper, to taste
  • Olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons of minced shallot
  • ¼ cup of dry red wine
  • ¼ cup of low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons of elderberry syrup*
  • 1 tablespoon of butter

*Note: Use homemade elderberry syrup or your favorite dark fruit syrup/jelly/preserves. There are many elderberry syrup recipes online, but I recommend using Hank Shaw's recipe.

Get the Recipe: Venison With Elderberry Pan Sauce Recipe


Elk Venison Hungarian Goulash Recipe

Elk Venison Hungarian Goulash Recipe
Serve this Elk Venison Hungarian Goulash Recipe over homemade noodles. (Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley photo)

For how easy this recipe is to make, you'll be amazed by how flavorful this elk venison Hungarian goulash tastes.

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds elk (or deer) venison roast
  • 2 large onions, sliced
  • 2 tablespoons oil, separated
  • 2 teaspoons Hungarian sweet paprika
  • 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 cups water or beef broth
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon dried marjoram
  • Chopped parsley
  • Cooked pasta, egg noodles or mashed potatoes

Get the Recipe: Elk Venison Hungarian Goulash Recipe


Venison Roast With Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Venison Roast With Cranberry Sauce Recipe
A classic venison roast is the perfect Christmas recipe, especially topped off with holiday cranberry sauce. (Hank Shaw photo)

Hank Shaw enjoys hunting, fishing and foraging near Sacramento, California, then creating delicious recipes from his day's work, like this Venison Roast With Cranberry Sauce Recipe.




Ingredients:

  • 2 to 5 pounds venison roast
  • Vegetable oil to coat
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 2 cups cranberries
  •  cup maple syrup
  • Zest of an orange, sliced into strips with pith removed
  • ¼ teaspoon cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 pounds potatoes, peeled and chopped
  • Salt
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ¼ cup butter
  • 1 teaspoon white pepper

Get the Recipe: Venison Roast With Cranberry Sauce Recipe


Venison Pot Pie Recipe

Venison Pot Pie Recipe
Introduce the fantastic flavor of venison to friends and family this holiday season with this venison recipe. (Jeff Kuhl photo)

Cut a large slice of this Venison Pot Pie Recipe, or make them in individual soufflé dishes for a tasty wild-game take on the traditional chicken pot pie.

Recommended


Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds venison stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter
  • 2 teaspoons basil paste
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 1 cup diced carrots
  • ½ cup diced celery
  • ½ cup green peas
  • 1 cup diced, canned new potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon garlic paste
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 2 tablespoons beef base paste mixed in 1 cup water
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1 cup green onions
  • Prepared pastry dough

Get the Recipe: Venison Pot Pie Recipe


Elk Venison Wellington Recipe

Elk Venison Wellington Recipe
Serve your guests something different this holiday, like this delicious recipe for venison elk tenderloin wrapped up in puff pastry. (Photo courtesy of David Draper)

Throw it back a few centuries and eat like royalty at this year's Christmas dinner with an elk venison Wellington.

Venison Wellington Ingredients:

  • 1 elk venison tenderloin
  • Kosher salt
  • Black pepper
  • Olive oil
  • 6-8 slices prosciutto
  • ¼ cup English mustard
  • Puff pastry
  • Egg yolk
  • 1 tablespoon milk

Mushroom Duxelles:

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 shallots, finely chopped
  • ½ pound mushrooms, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • Splash of cream
  • Salt and pepper

Get the Recipe: Elk Venison Wellington Recipe


Blue Cheese-Herb Stuffed Elk Tenderloin Recipe

Blue Cheese-Herb Stuffed Elk Tenderloin Recipe
The creamy cheese and juicy tenderloin in this recipe are a match made in heaven. (Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley photo)

Filled with blue cheese and herbs such as shallot, garlic, chives and rosemary, this stuffed elk venison tenderloin recipe will make your house smell wonderful.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound elk tenderloin or venison loin
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Freshly cracked pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons of butter, softened
  • 2 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¾ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Get the Recipe: Blue Cheese-Herb Stuffed Elk Tenderloin Recipe

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