Leg of Venison with Mushroom Spaetzle and Pear Brandy Braised Cabbage Recipe

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Leg of Venison with Mushroom Spaetzle and Pear Brandy Braised Cabbage
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Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. To prepare the venison: In a spice grinder or food processor, grind the peppercorns, juniper berries, fennel seeds, and thyme together. Mix with the olive oil and rub the venison. Cover and let stand in the refrigerator for 4 to 12 hours. Remove the venison from the refrigerator 1 hour before cooking to come to room temperature.
  2. To make the spaetzle: In a small saucepan, heat the milk over low heat just until it simmers. Remove from heat, stir in the ground mushrooms, and let stand for 15 minutes. In a large bowl, combine the milk mixture, flour, egg, herbs, salt and pepper. Mix the batter until smooth, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Place a colander or perforated pan over (not touching) the boiling water. Pour the batter into the colander or pan. Using a rubber spatula or your hand, quickly press the batter through the holes into the boiling water. Once all of the batter has been forced through the holes, remove the colander or pan. Stir the spaetzle and cook for 1 minute. Drain well and toss with a little olive oil; set aside.
  3. To make the cabbage: In a spice mill, grind the cloves, fennel, and juniper; set aside. In a 4-quart pot, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat. And the onion and saute for 3 minutes, or until translucent. Mix in the cabbage, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and 1 teaspoon of the pepper, and cook until the cabbage begins to wilt. Stir in the brandy, cider, and spices. Add the diced pear, cover, and cook, stirring frequently, for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cabbage is tender. Cover and keep warm until serving.
  4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  5. In a large skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and brown the venison on all sides. Place on a rack in a roasting pan and roast in the oven for 15 minutes for medium rare. For medium done, roast 6 to 7 minutes longer. Remove the venison from the oven, cover loosely with aluminum foil, and let stand for 5 minutes before slicing.
  6. Using a 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter over medium high heat. Add the chanterelle mushrooms and saute for 2 to 3 minutes until they begin to brown lightly and then add the spaetzle, season with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper, and cook until brown and crispy.
  7. To serve, portion the braised cabbage and spaetzle onto each plate. Thinly slice each piece of venison and place on top.
  8. Cook's Note: Venison is rarely found in retail stores and usually must be ordered by mail or from a wholesale meat company. It comes in standard cuts, similar to those for lamb, veal, or beef. The leg is one of my favorite cuts because it offers great flavor with little waste. Any tender cut of venison, such as the loin, leg, or saddle, may be used in the following recipe. Part of the current popularity of game and fowl is the natural leanness of the meat. Because it lacks fat, the meat does not have a built-in basting method to help keep it moist during cooking. For this reason, it is particularly important that game and fowl not be overcooked. This is certainly the case with venison, as even the most tender or carefully braised pieces can become dry if not handled carefully. Medium rare to rare is the most desirable degree of doneness. I like to use a marinade that enhances the flavor of venison without overpowering it. A few hours before cooking, I rub the meat with a mixture of equal parts freshly ground black pepper, juniper berries, and fennel seeds mixed with a little dried thyme and olive oil. Spaetzle is a classic Austrian noodle. The batter is passed through a perforated pan into boiling water to produce the noodles, which are then cooked in hot butter until golden brown and crispy. By introducing vegetable purees or ground spices into the mix, you can transform this somewhat uneventful white noodle into an innovative starch. This recipe adds dried mushrooms to the spaetzle dough and is a great game accompaniment.
  9. This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The FN chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.
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Nutrition Facts

Per ServingPer 100 g
Amount Per 1 Serving
Calories 586.37 Kcal (2455 kJ)
Calories from fat 258.23 Kcal
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 28.69g 44%
Cholesterol 65.68mg 22%
Sodium 3082.97mg 128%
Potassium 949.52mg 20%
Total Carbs 64.33g 21%
Sugars 13.32g 53%
Dietary Fiber 12.84g 51%
Protein 10.95g 22%
Vitamin C 124mg 207%
Vitamin A 0.1mg 2%
Iron 8.3mg 46%
Calcium 343.3mg 34%
Amount Per 100 g
Calories 130.86 Kcal (548 kJ)
Calories from fat 57.63 Kcal
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6.4g 44%
Cholesterol 14.66mg 22%
Sodium 688.05mg 128%
Potassium 211.91mg 20%
Total Carbs 14.36g 21%
Sugars 2.97g 53%
Dietary Fiber 2.86g 51%
Protein 2.44g 22%
Vitamin C 27.7mg 207%
Iron 1.8mg 46%
Calcium 76.6mg 34%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Find out how many calories should you eat.

Tastes

  • salty
  • savory
  • bitter
  • sweet
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Recipe Tags

Weightwatchers Points

  • 13.3
    Points
  • 14
    PointsPlus

Good Points

  • saturated fat free,
  • low cholesterol,
  • good source of fiber

Bad Points

  • High in Sodium

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