The Merchant of Venison Chops with Red Wine Mushroom Sauce and Bulgur Porridge |
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Prep Time: 25 Minutes Cook Time: 60 Minutes |
Ready In: 85 Minutes Servings: 6 |
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Ingredients:
6 (6 to 7-ounce) venison chops |
1 tablespoon juniper berries |
1 tablespoon coriander seeds |
3 star anise |
1 teaspoon salt |
1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns |
1 tablespoon olive oil |
2 shallots, minced |
2 cups white mushrooms, cleaned, trimmed and sliced |
1 (750-ml) bottle dry red wine |
salt and freshly ground black pepper |
1 cup bulgur (because it is pre-steamed, it can be soaked in boiling water to make it meal-ready) |
1/2 teaspoon salt |
Directions:
1. Rinse venison chops and pat dry with paper towels. In a coffee grinder dedicated to spices or with a mortar and pestle, grind the juniper berries, coriander seeds, star anise, salt and peppercorns together into a powder. Rub all sides of the chops with the spice mixture. Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large saute pan (deep enough to accommodate the chops and sauce) and sear the chops, leaving undisturbed for 2 minutes on each side to allow the spices to integrate into the surface of the meat. Remove chops to a utility platter.
2. In the same pan, over medium-high heat, saute the shallots until translucent. Add the mushrooms and cook until they give up their juices. Add the wine and let cook for about 5 minutes. Then reduce heat to medium-low, return the chops to the pan, cover, and let cook until the chops are tender, about 35 minutes. Transfer the chops to a platter and increase the heat under the pan of mushrooms and sauce and allow to reduce by two-thirds.
3. While the chops are cooking and the sauce is reducing, prepare the bulgur porridge which was traditionally served with venison as a digestive aid. Because it is pre-steamed, it can be soaked in boiling water to make it meal-ready. Put bulgur and salt in a mixing bowl. Add 2 1/2 cups boiling water, cover and let stand for 30 minutes.
4. To serve, place some bulgur porridge in the middle of each serving plate. Top with a venison chop and spoon mushrooms and sauce over and around.
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