Roasted Venison with Fresh Cranberry Sauce

There's so much more to venison than tenderloins or burger. Many people don't realize that venison can be roasted successfully without making it tough or leathery; the key is to provide some of the fat that this extra-lean meat doesn't usually contain, and to sear the meat first before following it up with a slow roast at lower heat. I hope you enjoy it.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 40 mins
• Total Time: 2 hr 10 mins
• Calories: 686 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter
• ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried sage
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried basil
• ½ cup red currant jelly
• 1 pinch kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 (8 pound) bone-in venison roast
• 2 ½ cups finely chopped onion, divided
• 2 cups fresh orange juice
• 6 ounces fresh cranberries
• 3 cups beef stock
• ¼ cup dry sherry (such as Oloroso)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Spread garlic all over venison roast, season with salt and pepper, and place in a roasting pan.

Step 2

Heat butter in a skillet over medium-low heat and cook and stir 1/2 cup onion, cilantro, sage, and basil until onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Spread the butter mixture evenly over the roast.

Step 3

Roast in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Add remaining 2 cups onion, orange juice, and cranberries to the roasting pan; reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Continue to roast, basting frequently, until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 140 degrees F for medium rare, about 1 hour. Remove the roast from the pan; cover to keep warm while you prepare the sauce.

Step 4

Pour beef stock into the roasting pan, and bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Continue boiling until the liquid is reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Skim off any fat; stir in the jelly and sherry. Continue to boil until the sauce is slightly thickened and evenly coats the back of a spoon, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.