Venison, chocolate, fig, turnip and Brussels sprouts

  • medium
  • 4
  • 1 hour 55 minutes
Not yet rated

Dark, bitter chocolate and gamey venison make an unusual but perfect match, with the sweet figs and earthy Brussels sprouts packing an extra delicious punch in this colourful main course by Marcus Wareing.

First published in 2015

Ingredients

Metric

Imperial

Venison

Venison jus

Chocolate ganache

To plate

Equipment

  • Fine chinoise

Method

1
Fry the venison trimmings in oil until browned all over then set aside. Fry the shallots and garlic, add the herbs and peppercorns then deglaze the pan with 100ml of vinegar and the wine
2
Reduce to a syrup, then add the stocks and venison trimmings
3
Cook for 45 minutes skimming regularly. Adjust the seasoning and freshen with the remaining vinegar if necessary. Stir in the fig purée. Pass through a sieve and chill
4
In a pan, toast and lightly crush the juniper berries. Separately blend the thyme with the oil. Add the juniper and garlic cloves to the oil
5
Pour the mixture into a vacuum pack bag with the meat. Leave to marinate while you prepare the other elements of the dish
  • 4 190g pieces of venison loin
6
For the chocolate ganache, put the chopped chocolate in a bowl. Bring the cream to a boil. Add ½ of it to the chocolate, add the butter and beat until fully combined
7
Add the remaining cream to the chocolate mix and leave to cool. Chill to set
8
For the venison, heat the oven to 180°C/Gas mark 4. Sear the venison in oil in a hot pan and then transfer to the oven for 5-10 minutes depending on how you like it cooked
9
To plate, heat the butter in a pan. Add the turnips and cook until browned on one side, turn over and brown on the other side. Pour in the stock, cover and cook until tender
10

Fry the Brussels sprouts in a little oil until tinged brown. Add a knob of butter and 100ml of water and poach until just tender. Set the sprouts aside, drain the pan then add the mushrooms cut-side down, frying until cooked through and brown

11
Spoon the chocolate ganache onto the plate, slice the loins in half and position the two sides of venison on top
12

Scatter the sprouts, mushrooms, turnips and figs across the plate then drizzle with the jus. Finish with the watercress and serve

Marcus Wareing defines his inimitable cooking style as 'not British cuisine, not French cuisine – it’s Marcus cuisine.'

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