Herbed Scottish Venison Loin, with Heritage Carrots, Red Cabbage, Wild Garlic & Blackberry Jus

Services – 4
INGREDIENTS
Herbed Venison Loin
- 650g Venison Loin
- 2 tsp Allspice Berries
- 2 tsp Black Peppercorns
- 2 tsp Galloway Grain Mustard
- 1 tbsp Scottish Oats
- 1 tbsp Rye Breadcrumbs
- A good pinch of Smoked sea salt flakes
- 6 sprigs of Sage – Leaves only
- 6 Sprigs of Rosemary – Leaves only
- 12 Sprigs of Thyme – 1 sprig for garnish, remainder removed from stalks
- Vegetable OilSlow Braised Red Cabbage
- 1 red cabbage – finely shredded – a mandolin is ideal
- 1⁄2 bottle of red wine (A spicy Shiraz is great)
- 500ml red wine vinegar
- A good pinch of sea salt flakes
- 1 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 3 star anise
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 tbsp dark brown sugarRoasted Heritage Carrot Puree
- 3 Large Scottish heritage carrots – roughly chopped (Yellow Bunch or Honeysnax are delicious)
- large knob of butter
- A good pinch of sea salt flakes
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- Blackberry Jus
- Vegetable Oil
- knob of butter
- 1 red onion – finely sliced
- A good pinch of sea salt flakes
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 150ml red wine
- 350ml good quality beef stock (or make your own)
- 1 tsp golden caster sugar
- 3 sprigs of rosemary – on stalk
- 150g Blairgowrie blackberries – halved (110g for Jus / 50g for garnish)
- 2 tablespoons of Redcurrant Jelly
- A good handful of wild garlic leaves, washed well.
- 400g Ayreshire New Season Potatoes, boiled in well salted water and thencrushed with a fork
- Handful of Perthshire Cherries, halved for garnish
- Quality aged balsamic vinegar to garnishMethod – Cook in order belowHerbed Venison Loin
- Oven 180 degrees centigrade
- Place all ingredients; except the venison, into a mini blender and blitzuntil you have a fairly fine grain mixture.
- Brush the venison loin with a little oil and then roll in the herbed mixtureuntil the loin is very well coated.
- In a heavy based, oven proof frying pan heat a teaspoon of oil untiljust off smoking.
- Sear the venison loin on all sides (don’t forget to sear the ends also).
- Place the pan into the oven and roast the loin; 10 – 12 minutes will berare / 13 – 15 minutes will be medium.
- Remove from oven and cover with foil and then a clean tea towel.Allow to rest for at least 30 minutes.
Slow Braised Red Cabbage
- Oven 160 degrees centigrade
- Place all the ingredient into a large roasting pan.
- Mixthoroughlyensuringthesugardissolvesandisevenlydistributedatthis stage.
- Please in the centre of the oven and cook for 35 – 40 minutes until softand tender but not completely broken down.
- Stir a couple of times during cooking.
- Oven 160 degrees centigrade.
- Wrap all the ingredients in a tight foil package and place in the oven.
- Cook for 35 minutes, your garlic & carrots will be tender.
- Pass through a fine mesh sieve and then beat with a wooden spoonfor a light, creamy puree.
- Steam the Garlic Leaves for a couple of minutes
- In a heavy based saucepan heat splash of vegetable oil & the butter.
- Add onion and allow to cook over a low heat for 5 minutes.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and cook over a medium to high heatfor around 10 – 15 minutes. The jus will reduce and thicken. Rememberto stir occasionally.
- Remove from the heat and pass through a sieve to remove the black-berry cores and the rosemary sprigs.
- Remove Venison Loin from pan and cut into 4 portions.
- Place the Crushed Potatoes into the centre of the plates, top with wilt-ed garlic leaves and top with a portion of cabbage.
- Finish with the venison loin, spoon carrot puree and drizzle the black-berry jus round the plate with a couple drops of sweet aged balsamicvinegar.
- Scatter a few blackberry & cherry halves over the plate.
ENJOY!