Venison is one of the best meats you can eat. It’s an amazing source of protein, is low in fat, and has iron, zinc and B vitamins.

Even though this type of meat is super healthy, some people are not willing to try it. The first argument for a “non-venison person” is taste. People have in their mind that this meat has a strong wild animal taste, which is in contrast to what most are used to from eating only beef. The taste of venison depends on many factors; the most significant being the animal you choose and the way you cook it.

Some animals, like the ibex or the chamois, are goats which have a stronger taste than deer. This is why you need to adapt the recipe regarding the meat you’re cook. Choosing a long and slow cooking method ensures that the meat will be tender. I use a Crockpot to slow-cook my meat and it’s exceptional.

The way you prepare your meat is also important. Take it out off the freezer the night before you want to cook it and put it in the fridge to thaw it – don’t put it in cold or warm water to try and speed up the process. Venison meat is precious; think of all the hours you waited in the cold to get it, so it’s worth it to take your time and be patient when it’s time to eat it.

After these pieces of advice, it’s time I give you my favorite venison recipes:

 

1) The Venison saddle

 

The saddle is the best part of the animal, in my opinion. It’s tender and tasty, but you need to get the perfect cooking time. I strongly recommended using a meat thermometer. Here is a recipe that will impress friends and family. Perfect for a unique occasion.

Read the recipe here

 

2) The Big Mac – Cowboy Style by Kent Rollins

 

As a European guy, you might expect me to only have French or Italian food as references. But after a trip to Fort Worth in Texas, I went crazy about their cowboy lifestyle. That’s why I’m also a fan of Kent Rollins. In this recipe, you will learn to create your own Big Mac. This recipe is with beef meat but just change it with venison meat and you will have the perfect burger. Yee-haw!

Read the recipe here

 

3) Cowboy Chili Recipe

 

Yes, it’s again about Kent Rollins but this time with a spicy-as-hell Chili Recipe. It’s perfect for ibex, chamois, or any type of mountain goat. This chili is not for tourists. It’s for real cowboys so take a day off after eating it (genuine advice!).

Read the recipe here

 

4) Köttbullar aka Swedish Meatballs

 

This is one of my favorite venison recipes. I use deer or even chamois meat for this one. It’s the perfect meal for a Christmas hangover and all your Swedish friends will be impressed. If you can manage to do your own mashed potatoes it’s even better. Smaklig måltid !

Read the recipe here

 

5) Country Goat Curry

 

This is the recipe I used to cook the ibex I hunted in September. It’s the kind of recipe that takes you on a journey. It’s also an amazing way to try something different with your venison and the perfect way to taste venison for the first time, as the meat taste will not be so strong. Let it cook for 7 to 8 hours.

Read the recipe here

 

6) Greek Ram Gyro

 

I love Greek food, it reminds me of a trip I did to Crete where we went fishing with a certain Captain Tasos. This recipe is simple to do and it’s perfect for summer.

Read the recipe here

 

7) The Daube de sanglier à la Provençale

 

If you don’t speak French, it’s time to learn just to be able to make this recipe. It’s a typical recipe made with wild-boar meat. Here is the link to a famous French TV personality : Maïté. Her cooking style was all about tradition and rich flavor. I suggest that you cook the wild boar like her, or you don’t cook it at all.

Read the recipe here

 

As you can see, there are a lot of ways to cook venison. In the end, you can cook any meal with venison meat in it. As meat is a precious resource, you need to think about how you source it. Eat less meat but with greater quality or go hunt it!

You can find these recipes cooked by me on my Instagram: huntandeatwell

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