Save money and Eat Healthy With Venison Recipes

Every Fall while my brothers all gear up for hunting season we start scouring recipe books and online for ways to prepare venison.  My husband doesn’t hunt but having so many in the family that does means that I often end up with some venison in my own freezer from some very generous family members.

Venison is actually very healthy, fairly low in fat and high in protein. Two of my favorite ways to prepare is as a replacement for ground beef or a roast slow cooked all day.  You can substitute ground venison for hamburger in spaghetti sauce, meatloaf, or just about anything that you would normally use hamburger for.  Slow cooking venison roasts in the crock pot also works well for delicious, fork tender meat.

Because venison is lower in fat you need to make sure that the more tender cuts such as loins and fillets are cooked quickly so that they don’t become tough.  Add a little oil to the meat to keep it from sticking on the grill or in the pan and cook rare or medium rare or medium for optimal flavor.  Tougher cuts can be braised and cooked slowly in the crock pot, on top of the stove or in the oven with a small amount liquid to keep it moist.

Some people complain that venison has  a wild or “gamy” taste.  There are several different methods to getting rid of this taste.  Some swear by soaking in milk, buttermilk, various marinades or even cooking in a little apple juice.  However, many avid deer hunters will tell you that if venison is processed properly in the first place then there will be little or no gamy taste to worry about.

In today’s economy it is well worth substituting venison for other cuts of meat to not only save money but eat healthy.  If you are a hunter or, in my case have some hunters in the family who are always willing to share then take advantage of the many ways that you can prepare this versatile meat.

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