Savory Bacon-Wrapped Venison with Mushroom Medley

Indulge in the exquisite flavors of a truly special dish with our Bacon-Wrapped Venison with Mushroom recipe. This culinary masterpiece combines the succulence of venison backstrap enveloped in smoky bacon, harmonizing with a luxurious mushroom cream sauce that will elevate any occasion. The marriage of earthy herbs, decadent sauce, and tender venison creates a symphony of flavors that is sure to dazzle your guests and loved ones.

Crafting this Bacon-Wrapped Venison with Mushroom dish is not just about cooking; it’s about creating an unforgettable experience. Whether it’s a birthday celebration or a cozy family dinner, this recipe is designed to impress and delight. The tender venison wrapped in crispy bacon, paired with the rich and velvety mushroom cream sauce, will undoubtedly leave your guests craving more. So why not treat yourself and your loved ones to a culinary adventure that’s both comforting and sophisticated?

Savor the memories of foraging for wild mushrooms with loved ones as you whip up this extraordinary dish. Every bite of the Bacon-Wrapped Venison with Mushroom brings together the rustic charm of the forest with a touch of culinary elegance. With each step, from preparing the venison to simmering the savory sauce, you’ll embark on a culinary journey that culminates in a feast fit for royalty. So gather your ingredients, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to create a meal that will be remembered long after the last bite.

Quick Benefits

• Keeps Venison Juicy: Wrapping the venison backstrap with bacon helps retain moisture, ensuring a succulent and flavorful dish.
• Rich Mushroom Cream Sauce: The decadent mushroom cream sauce adds depth and richness to the dish, elevating the flavors and creating a luxurious dining experience.
• Impressive Presentation: This recipe is perfect for special occasions or celebrations, impressing family and friends with its elegant yet comforting combination of flavors and textures.

Why You’ll Love This Savory Bacon-Wrapped Venison with Mushroom Medley Recipe

• Ultimate Celebration Meal: This recipe is perfect for special occasions as it combines juicy venison wrapped in bacon with a decadent mushroom cream sauce, creating a dish that feels luxurious and celebratory.
• Impressive Yet Comforting: The dish strikes a balance between being impressive and deeply comforting, making it a perfect choice for hosting or special family dinners.
• Family Favorite: The recipe received high praise from family members and became a go-to dish for celebrations, making it a guaranteed hit with loved ones.
• Foraging Memories: The use of wild mushrooms in the dish invokes memories of foraging trips, adding a nostalgic and adventurous element to the cooking experience.
• Versatile and Flexible: The recipe offers various substitution options for ingredients, making it adaptable to different preferences and ingredient availability.
• Leftover Friendly: The dish is great for leftovers, and the separate storage and reheating instructions ensure that the meal can be enjoyed multiple times without losing its quality.
• Heritage and Elegance: The dish combines rustic roots with a touch of elegance, showcasing the heritage of wild game cooking traditions while offering a sophisticated dining experience.
• Tips for Perfect Execution: The recipe provides helpful tips for ensuring the best results, such as careful trimming, avoiding overcooking, and the option to add a cornstarch slurry for a creamier sauce.
• Make-Ahead Option: The recipe allows for some preparation ahead of time, enabling easy assembly and finishing just before serving, perfect for reducing last-minute stress.
• Serving Suggestions: The dish pairs well with various sides and accompaniments, such as mashed potatoes, green beans, polenta, or a spinach salad, providing versatile options for a complete meal.

Ingredients for Savory Bacon-Wrapped Venison with Mushroom Medley

For the Bacon-Wrapped Venison

• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 30 ml olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
• 900 g venison backstrap, trimmed of silverskin
• 10–12 slices thin-cut bacon

For the Creamy Mushroom Sauce

• 450 g mixed mushrooms (cremini, shiitake, oyster), sliced
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 30 ml olive oil
• 240 ml beef broth
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water (optional, for thickening)
• 30 g butter
• 2 shallots, finely diced
• 240 ml heavy cream
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Pro Tips for Savory Bacon-Wrapped Venison with Mushroom Medley

Pro tip: To ensure your bacon-wrapped venison stays juicy, avoid overcooking by using a meat thermometer to roast the backstrap to medium-rare. This will give you the best texture and flavor for this special dish.

Pro tip: For a flavorful mushroom sauce, use a mix of cremini, shiitake, and oyster mushrooms. The combination of different mushrooms will provide a rich, earthy taste and varied textures that complement the venison perfectly.

Pro tip: For a stress-free meal prep, wrap and season the venison ahead of time and prepare the sauce separately. When ready to serve, simply assemble and finish the dish for a fresh and impressive presentation that will wow your guests.

How to Make Savory Bacon-Wrapped Venison with Mushroom Medley

Step 1: Prepare the Venison Backstrap

Dry the venison backstrap with paper towels, remove any silverskin, and rub with olive oil, rosemary, thyme, garlic, black pepper, and sea salt. Let it marinate at room temperature for 20 minutes.

Step 2: Wrap with Bacon

Arrange bacon slices slightly overlapping on a board. Place seasoned venison on top, then wrap bacon tightly around the meat, securing with kitchen twine or toothpicks if necessary.

Step 3: Sear and Roast the Venison

Preheat oven to 200°C. Heat an oven-safe pan over medium-high heat with olive oil. Sear bacon-wrapped backstrap until bacon is crisp, about 2–3 minutes per side. Roast in oven until internal temperature reaches 54°C, about 15–20 minutes. Rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Step 4: Prepare the Mushroom Sauce

In a separate pan over medium heat, melt butter with olive oil. Sauté shallots until soft for about 2 minutes, then add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add sliced mushrooms and cook until golden and liquid has evaporated, about 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 5: Finish the Sauce

Deglaze the pan with beef broth, scraping up any browned bits. Add heavy cream, Dijon mustard, and fresh thyme. Simmer until thickened, about 3–5 minutes. For a thicker sauce, whisk in cornstarch slurry and cook for 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.

Step 6: Serve

Cut the rested venison into medallions and arrange on plates with generous helpings of mushroom cream sauce. Serve promptly.

Storage Tips

To store the finished dish of Bacon-Wrapped Venison with Mushroom, it is recommended to keep the leftover venison and mushroom sauce in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. They can be stored this way for up to three days. When reheating, gently warm the meat in a low oven while slowly reheating the sauce on the stovetop. If the sauce thickens in the fridge, simply add a splash of broth or cream to loosen it up. For freezing, slice the backstrap first and wrap portions tightly. The mushroom sauce can be frozen separately, but note that the texture may change slightly upon reheating.

This dish can be a delightful option for celebrations or special occasions. If venison backstrap is not available, pork tenderloin or beef tenderloin can be used as substitutes, following the same steps and adjusting the roasting time as needed. Fresh herbs can be substituted with dried varieties, using half the amount. Button mushrooms can be used if wild varieties are difficult to find, and green onions can stand in for shallots if necessary. Serve the Bacon-Wrapped Venison with Mushroom alongside creamy mashed potatoes, garlicky green beans, polenta, or buttery egg noodles for a delicious pairing that complements the rich sauce beautifully.

Ingredient Substitutions

If you cannot find venison backstrap, pork tenderloin or beef tenderloin are great substitutes that work beautifully with the bacon wrapping. Simply adjust the roasting time as needed for these alternative cuts. In the absence of fresh herbs, dried rosemary and thyme can be used, just remember to halve the amount called for. Additionally, if you have difficulty sourcing wild mushrooms, button mushrooms are a suitable substitute. For the shallots, green onions can be used as a replacement in a pinch.

The mushroom cream sauce is a versatile component of the dish. If you prefer a creamier sauce, you can utilize the cornstarch slurry for thickening. However, the sauce should naturally thicken when simmered, so the cornstarch mixture is optional. To cater to personal preferences, the sauce can also be frozen separately, although the texture may slightly change upon reheating. When serving the dish, consider pairing it with creamy mashed potatoes, garlicky green beans, polenta, or buttery egg noodles. Additionally, the leftover venison can be sliced thin and used to make a delicious sandwich with crusty bread and arugula, or served alongside a big spinach salad with vinaigrette for a lighter option.

Serving Suggestions

For a stunning presentation, serve the bacon-wrapped venison with mushrooms on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes, allowing the rich mushroom sauce to seep into the fluffy potatoes. Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme or a sprinkle of crispy fried shallots for an elegant touch. Pair this dish with a full-bodied red wine like a Pinot Noir or Merlot to enhance the earthy flavors and create a truly memorable dining experience.

Alternatively, for a cozy and rustic meal, plate the bacon-wrapped venison alongside a mound of buttery egg noodles, allowing the velvety mushroom cream sauce to coat each strand. Add a side of garlicky green beans or sautéed spinach for a pop of color and freshness. This comforting dish is perfect for a family gathering or a special occasion, bringing together the warmth of home-cooked flavors with a touch of gourmet flair.

FAQs for Savory Bacon-Wrapped Venison with Mushroom Medley

Can I use a different type of meat instead of venison backstrap?

Absolutely! Pork tenderloin or beef tenderloin can be used as a substitute for venison backstrap. Just adjust the roasting time accordingly.

Can I prepare the venison and sauce ahead of time?

Yes, you can wrap and season the venison ahead of time and prepare the sauce separately. Assemble and finish cooking just before serving to ensure freshness.

Do I need to use cornstarch to thicken the mushroom cream sauce?

No, the sauce should naturally thicken when simmered. The cornstarch slurry is optional and can be used if you prefer a creamier consistency.

What are some recommended side dishes to serve with this dish?

This dish pairs well with creamy mashed potatoes, garlicky green beans, polenta, buttery egg noodles, or a spinach salad tossed with vinaigrette. Leftovers can be sliced thin and used for sandwiches with crusty bread and arugula.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Bacon-Wrapped Venison with Mushroom is a true showstopper that never fails to impress both in flavor and presentation. Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or simply treating yourself to a luxurious meal, this dish is sure to delight your taste buds and leave you feeling satisfied. The combination of tender venison, savory bacon, and rich mushroom cream sauce is a culinary experience that is hard to beat.

Remember, the key to success with this recipe lies in the quality of your ingredients and the attention to detail in preparation. Take your time to savor the process of creating this masterpiece in your kitchen, and don’t hesitate to make it your own by experimenting with different herbs, mushrooms, or side dishes. So, gather your loved ones around the table, savor each bite of this delectable dish, and create lasting memories with Bacon-Wrapped Venison with Mushroom at the heart of your celebration. Cheers to good food, good company, and happy cooking!