Pan Fried Venison With Sloe Gin Plum Sauce Food

PAN-FRIED VENISON WITH SLOE GIN & PLUM SAUCE

Steps:

• Press the juniper and lots of black pepper onto the steaks. Heat the butter in a frying pan until foaming, add the plum quarters and the steaks. Cook to your liking, turning halfway through. Remove and keep warm.
• Tip the chopped plum and garlic into the pan juices and cook, stirring, until softened. Pour in the sloe gin, allow to sizzle, then add the hot stock. When the plums are really soft, press the mixture through a sieve to remove the skins. Try to get as much pulp through as you can, as this will add flavour and body to the sauce. If it's too thick, add a dash of boiling water.
• Put the steaks on warmed plates, top with the plum quarters and spoon round some sauce. Scatter over the thyme and a little black pepper. Serve with Fennel Dauphinoise (see 'Goes well with', right) and wilted spinach.

PAN-FRIED VENISON WITH BLACKBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a frying pan, cook the venison for 5 mins, then turn over and cook for 3-5 mins more, depending on how rare you like it and the thickness of the meat (cook for 5-6 mins on each side for well done). Lift the meat from the pan and set aside to rest.
• Add the balsamic vinegar to the pan, then pour in the stock, redcurrant jelly and garlic. Stir over quite a high heat to blend everything together, then add the blackberries and carry on cooking until they soften. Serve with the venison, celeriac mash (see below) and broccoli.

PAN ROAST VENISON WITH PLUM SAUCE, SWEET CORN CAKES AND CRISP SQUASH BLOSSOMS

Steps:

• Venison and Squash Blossoms:
• Puree 1/2 of the cooked corn in a food processor until smooth. Mix remaining corn, onions, scallions, garlic, and eggs in a separate bowl.
• In a separate bowl, mix together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Add dry ingredients to corn mixture and blend well. Let rest, refrigerated, for at least 15 minutes.
• Spoon cake mix into a heated, oiled nonstick skillet and spread out to form 2-inch pancakes. Cook, over medium heat, for about 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden. Turn over and finish cooking pancakes.
• Note: corn pancakes can be made ahead and reheated in a moderate oven.
• For the Venison and Squash blossoms: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat a thick, ovenproof skillet until quite hot. Add just enough oil to coat bottom. Season venison liberally with salt and pepper. Place in skillet and brown on 1 side. Turn venison over and place skillet in oven to finish cooking. Cook venison to medium rare, about 6 minutes, or until an instant read thermometer registers 135 degrees F.
• Heat a deep pot of oil or a fryer to 360 degrees F.
• As venison is cooking, gently dip squash blossoms into tempura batter, and fry in oil until crisp and golden. Remove and drain on paper towels.
• Remove venison from oven and let rest for 5 minutes.
• Slice venison against the grain of the meat and divide onto 4 plates. Place warm corn cakes above the meat. Sauce in front, serving remaining sauce on the side. Garnish with squash blossoms and serve immediately with Plum Demi-glace.
• In a bowl, mix together flour, cornstarch, egg yolk, and salt and mix well. Add water, starting with 1/2 cup, until batter is a thin pancake batter consistency.
• Place all ingredients in a heavy saucepan and simmer until very soft. Push through a mesh strainer to remove pulp. Add demi-glace and keep warm.