Venison, Hazelnut Cream & Lingonberry Jam

An elegant hors d’oeuvre or classy light-yet-filling lunch, this recipe is simple but luxurious. It doesn’t have to be served hot, so the components can be made ahead of time for a picnic or party.

Adapted from Matthew Young’s Brook Green Wild Food Market recipe

Ingredients Serves: 2-3

  • Roast Venison:
  • Venison Tenderloin
  • 1 t Pink Peppercorns
  • ½ t Black Peppercorns
  • 2 t Juniper Berries
  • 2 t Allspice
  • 1 t Salt
  • 1 T Butter
  • 1 t High Heat Oil (grapeseed, canola, safflower, etc)
  • Hazelnut Cream:
  • 7 oz Crème Fraiche
  • 1/2 c Hazelnuts
  • Salt to Taste
  • Lemon Juice to Taste
    •    
  • Lingonberry Jam
  • Artisan Bread Loaf
  • Sea Salt

Instructions

1

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

2

Combine the juniper berries, peppercorns, allspice and teaspoon of salt in a spice grinder (you could also use a clean coffee grinder). Grind to a fine powder.

3

Rub the spice blend evenly over the entire surface of the tenderloin.

4

Combine the butter and high heat oil in an oven-safe frying pan. Get the pan quite hot over medium high heat, then add the tenderloin and sear it on all sides until it develops a brown crust.

5

Move the pan to the oven and roast the tenderloin to an internal temperature of 130 degrees (check it after 7 minutes).

6

When the tenderloin has finished roasting, remove it from the oven and put it on a plate covered with a loose layer of foil. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes while you make the hazelnut cream.

7

Make the Hazelnut Cream. Put the hazelnuts in a blender and blend until ground into nut meal. Add the crème fraiche and continue to blend until the hazelnuts and crème become a smooth consistent mixture.

Taste & add salt & lemon juice as necessary.

8

Thinly slice & toast the bread. Spread it with the hazelnut cream.

9

Thinly slice the venison tenderloin & lay strips of it on top of the hazelnut cream. Top the venison with some sea salt and lingonberry jam. Serve.