Roasted Venison Loin with Braised Red Cabbage, Sweet German Potato Noodles, and Juniper Berry Sauce
- Level: Advanced
- Yield: 4 servings
- Total: 1 day 2 hr 15 min
- Prep: 1 hr
- Inactive: 1 day
- Cook: 1 hr 15 min
Ingredients
Venison:
2 tablespoons sunflower oil
1 pound venison loin
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon chopped rosemary
I tablespoon juniper berries
2 tablespoons butter
Sauce:
3 ounces chopped shallots
Sunflower oil
1/4 cup Calvados
1/4 cup cognac
1 cup venison demiglace
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons double cream
1 tablespoon crushed juniper berries
Creme de cassis, for finishing
Banyuls vinegar, for finishing
Cabbage:
3 ounces sugar
2 cups red wine
1/4 bottle port wine
7 white peppercorns
3 cloves
1 bay leaf
1/2 (3-inch) stick cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Salt
Grated zest and juice from 3 oranges
1 1/2 heads red cabbage, sliced
Potato noodles:
8 ounces Yukon gold potatoes
Rock salt, for roasting
Scant 1/2 cup cornstarch
1 egg yolk
Butter, for searing
Walnuts, roasted and crushed, for garnish
Cranberries:
2 ounces fresh cranberries
2 tablespoons sugar
Port wine
Directions
- To make the venison:
- Preheat the oven to 220 degrees F.
- Heat the sunflower oil in a roasting pan. Season the venison with salt and pepper, and sear it until it's nicely colored and caramelized. Roast until it's medium rare; an instant read thermometer inserted into the center should read 145 degrees. Transfer the meat to a board and let rest so the juices can settle. Spoon off the fat from the pan drippings. Add the bay leaf, rosemary, juniper berries, and butter. Return the meat to the pan and begin spooning the butter and meat juices over the meat to bring to medium.
- To make the sauce:
- Cook the shallots in a small amount of oil until they're softened but haven't taken on any color. Deglaze the pan with the Calvados and cognac. Add the venison glace and double cream and cook to reduce somewhat. Add juniper berries. Finish with cassis and vinegar to taste. Strain through a fine sieve.
- To make the cabbage:
- In a saucepan, heat the sugar on medium heat until it caramelizes. Add red wine and port and stir to dissolve into the caramel. Add the peppercorns, cloves, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, ground cinnamon, and a little salt, orange juice and zest. Put the cabbage in a bowl, pour the marinade on top, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours.
- To make the potato noodles:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Put the potatoes on a bed of rock salt and roast until soft. Peel the potatoes, break them open, and let the moisture steam out. Pass the potatoes through a potato ricer. Mix in the cornstarch and egg yolk to make a dough. Form the dough into little noodles by rolling it between the palms of your hands. Blanch the noodles in boiling salted water until done. Drain.
- Sear the potato noodles in a hot skillet with a little butter until they're golden brown. Sprinkle with walnuts.
- To make the cranberries: In a large bowl, toss the cranberries with the sugar and a dash of port wine to taste.