With Thanksgiving a mere month in the past, many families have shed the turkey and ham formula for Christmas meals. I know folks that traditionally serve prime rib, barbecue, and even tamales for this revered time celebrating the birth of Christ. My family serves fried and boiled shrimp. I approve of this.
Have you ever considered serving venison or other wild game during the Christmas season? If so, have you ever followed through?
As hunters, we love the act of harvesting our own meat. What better time to share the moment and delicious protein with others. From simple bacon-wrapped poppers to the fanciest chef-inspired dishes, sharing the hunt through plate and fork is a unique and special way to enjoy one of the best part of the holidays, eating.
Here are six tips for adding venison to your holiday culinary repertoire.
Minimize the Gamey Flavor
This is less important for crowds familiar with wild game. Either way, minimizing gamey flavor starts with proper field care. If you process your own game, take special care starting directly after the shot. The butchering process will largely determine the quality (and taste) of your yield. For the potentially picky, prep and season your meat accordingly. One good way to mask the taste is to choose a dish that is less conducive to wild flavor. Venison chilis and soups are a good alternative as the meat is slowly seasoned with the stock. Another popular approach is to mix in other meat such as ground pork or bacon with your wild game.
Most outdoorsmen appreciate the wild flavor. Know your crowd and choose your cooking creations accordingly.
Know Your Meat Cuts
Regarding venison, there are optimal ways to prepare different parts. For example, tender cuts like the backstrap are best cooked fast over high heat for a short period of time. Tougher (working) cuts such as front shoulder cuts should be cook more slowly. If you’re not sure, ask a friend or fire up Google. There is a ton of information out there about wild game preparation.
Knowing the different venison cuts and how to cook them is important for success. Meat guide courtesy of the Archery Trade Association.
Practice Run
If you’re trying a new recipe or preparation method, take it around the block a time or two before serving it to others. If you’re anything like me, you have all kinds of great seasoning ideas for wild game. There are times though that, due to a lack of execution, the end product comes out over-seasoned, under-seasoned, or tough as your favorite hunting boots. Practice may not make perfect, but it can certainly head off a disaster.
Make Available Other Food Alternatives
If you’re the host, make sure there are dishes available other than wild game. Nobody wants to feel like their being served wild game at gunpoint. A good host will ensure that there are some traditional dishes to go along with the ones coming from wild places. There will be a contingent of your captive audience that will appreciate it.
Share the Hunting Memory
Hunting is a righteous pastime. Proudly share the memories associated with your harvest. It not only shows your passion for the outdoors but reverence for the animals we hunt and serve up. When non-hunters see that you’re satisfied with the kill as well as the bounty, hopefully the light bulb will come on.
Don’t be bashful about sharing the moment of the harvest and your love of hunting in general.
Explain the Benefits of Harvesting Your Own Game
I know you’re thinking “I bet you’re fun at parties”. Still, letting non-hunters in your crew know that hunting, among other things, keeps nature at a healthy balance by helping to make available habitat commensurate with animal populations. Oh, and don’t forget to explain the health benefits associated with protein-packed meal you’ve set in front of them.
Thick Skin
Regarding the meat itself, remember that not everyone will like it – and that’s okay. I know my mind has long since slammed shut to the idea of eating liver.
For those (if any) in the crowd that can’t accept hunting and killing animals, don’t be combative. There are some folks that just aren’t going to come around to the idea of killing animals – at least not at the first pass or two. If you’ve explained some of the benefits with no traction, move on. With this crowd, Christmas dinner probably isn’t the time to try and solve it.
Hunting and preparing wild game, like celebrating during the holidays, is as natural as it gets. The holidays are a great time to spread the word by serving up concoctions borne of free-range organic meat. If executed well, you might just find yourself taking venison orders from friends and family next season – or have a friend or family member ask to tag along on a future hunt.
