Scottish Venison Pie

Name: Scottish Venison Pie
Prep time: 15
Cook time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Yield: 6 Servings
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 115g smoked streaky bacon, diced; 175g small shallots, peeled and chopped; 3 tbsps olive oil; 750g Scottish venison leg meat, diced; 2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped; 3 tbsps tomato purée; 1 tsp coarse ground black pepper; 3 tbsps plain flour; 115g small button mushrooms; 250ml red wine; 400ml hot beef or vegetable stock; 2 tsps juniper berries; 2 fresh bay leaves; 2 tsps dried thyme; 500g ready-made butter puff pastry; Flour for rolling; 1 free-range egg; 1 tbsp milk

preparation 15
cook time 2 hours 20 minutes
Serves 6

This delicious venison pie has a cooked filling of cubed venison simmered in red wine and vegetable stock, with the addition of bacon lardons, mushrooms and fragrant fresh herbs. It's a comforting venison recipe that makes the ultimate autumnal dinner.

lecreuset.co.uk

Ingredients Method

115g smoked streaky bacon, diced
175g small shallots, peeled and chopped
3 tbsps olive oil
750g Scottish venison leg meat, diced
2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
3 tbsps tomato purée
1 tsp coarse ground black pepper
3 tbsps plain flour
115g small button mushrooms
250ml red wine
400ml hot beef or vegetable stock
2 tsps juniper berries
2 fresh bay leaves
2 tsps dried thyme
500g ready-made butter puff pastry
Flour for rolling
1 free-range egg
1 tbsp milk

Preheat the oven to 170°C/Fan 150°C/ Gas Mark 3. To make the pie filling, place a pan on a medium heat and sauté the bacon pieces and shallots gently in the oil for 6-8 minutes. Remove from the pot with a slotted spoon, leaving the oil inside, and set to one side.

Add the venison pieces a little at a time to the flavoured oil in the pot and seal. Stir in the garlic, tomato purée and black pepper, sprinkle over the flour and stir. Return the cooked bacon and shallots along with the mushrooms to the pot.

Stir in the red wine, hot stock, juniper berries, bay leaves and thyme. Bring to a simmer on the hob, place on the lid and transfer to the oven to cook 1 hour. Once the filling is cooked remove the bay leaves, any herb stalks and season with salt to taste.

Increase the oven temperature to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas Mark 6. To make the pie dust a work surface and a rolling pin with a little flour and roll out the pastry to approximately 5-7mm thick. Turn the pie dish upside down and use as a guide to cut a circle about 1cm larger than the top. With a sharp knife, cut some thin strips from the excess pastry to use around the rim of the dish.

Place the cooked filling into the pie dish. Brush some of the beaten egg mix around the edges of the dish and stick on the pastry strips, joining up where necessary.

Brush the pastry strips with some more of the beaten egg mixture and place on the pastry top.

Press the pastry down gently around the edges to seal. Brush the top with the remaining beaten egg. Cook for 20- 25 minutes until puffed up and deep golden brown. Serve with creamy potato mash on the side.

SERVE THIS WITH...

Fennel & Swiss Chard Gratin

Time 40 minutes

Time Serves 6 as a side dish

Ingredients

115g smoked streaky bacon, diced

175g small shallots, peeled and chopped

3 tbsps olive oil

750g Scottish venison leg meat, diced

2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped

3 tbsps tomato purée

1 tsp coarse ground black pepper

3 tbsps plain flour

115g small button mushrooms

250ml red wine

400ml hot beef or vegetable stock

2 tsps juniper berries

2 fresh bay leaves

2 tsps dried thyme

500g ready-made butter puff pastry

Flour for rolling

1 free-range egg

1 tbsp milk

Method

Place the cooked filling into the pie dish. Brush some of the beaten egg mix around the edges of the dish and stick on the pastry strips, joining up where necessary.

Brush the pastry strips with some more of the beaten egg mixture and place on the pastry top.