Game Burger

Makes 8 burgers

• 450 g. ground venison
• 450 g. ground wild boar
• 450 g. ground bison
• salt and pepper to taste
• 8 hamburger buns

Suggested toppings

• 8 slices smoked cheddar cheese
• sliced red onion
• sliced pickle
• sliced tomatoes
• garlic aioli
• hot mustard

Method

Mix all ingredients in a stand mixer using the paddle attachment or in a large bowl by hand until well incorporated.

Weigh out portioned balls of meat to 168 g. (6 oz.) and pat tightly into patties by hand or with a burger patty press.

Refrigerate on a tray lined with wax paper until ready to grill. Chilling the burgers before grilling will keep them from breaking apart while grilling.

Season both sides with salt and pepper and sear on a preheated cast-iron pan or preheated bbq grill. Both methods are great ways to cook a burger, but give different results. The cast-iron pan will give the patty a crispy golden crust, while the grill with provide a more smoky flavour.

Flip burgers once, after three to four minutes per side. Flipping too often can cause the patty to fall apart and not get those flavourful char marks. Cook to an internal temp of 51 C (125 F) for medium rare or 57 C (135 F) for medium (pink).

Toast the burger buns on the grill, then place each burger on the bottom bun.

Top with smoked cheddar, as well as your favourite condiments.

Ricotta Cavatelli with Venison Neck Ragu

Serves 6-8

Cavatelli Dough

• 250 g. ricotta cheese
• 400 g. all-purpose flour
• 100 g. semolina
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 pinch grated nutmeg (optional)
• 50 ml. water, if needed

Gear

• cavatelli machine or a wooden gnocchi board with lined grooves
• mixing bowl

Dough method

Place all ingredients in your bowl and mix with your hands until the dough comes together. Depending on the moisture content of the ricotta you are using, this recipe may not need water.

Transfer to a table and knead the dough until it is a firm smooth ball. 

Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and let rest for 30 minutes.

Rolling procedure

Cut dough into six equal size pieces.

Roll out into logs one-centimetre thick and partially flatten into strips.

Feed each strip of dough into the machine, while turning the handle.

Spread out dumplings onto a baking tray, dusting with extra semolina to keep from sticking.

If you do not have a cavatelli machine and are using a gnocchi board, follow instructions one and two. Then cut log into 0.5-centimetre rectangular slices and push dough downward on the gnocchi board with your thumb, curling the dough and creating a concave center with grooves on the outside.

Venison Ragu

• 1 kg. deboned venison meat (neck, shoulder or leg)
• 1 large spanish onion
• 1 carrot
• 2 stalks celery
• 6 roma tomatoes
• 200 g dried wild mushrooms
• 4 cloves garlic
• 350 ml. red wine
• 2 L. dark venison stock
• 1 bouquet garni (thyme, parsley, and bay leaves, tied with twine)
• 100 ml. olive oil          
• salt and pepper to taste

Gear

• cutting board
• chefs’ knife
• large skillet
• roasting pan
• butcher twine
• tinfoil

Method

Preheat skillet.

Cut vegetables into medium dice. Crush and mince garlic.

Season venison meat generously with salt and pepper.

Add oil to the hot skillet and add venison to the pan. Do not flip until the meat is caramelized and brown.

Transfer to a roasting pan, then add vegetables to the skillet. Sauté until beginning to caramelized. Add minced garlic and stir. Deglaze with red wine.

Transfer vegetables to roasting pan, add stock and bouquet garni, dried mushrooms and cover with foil.

Bake at 163 C (325 F) for 2.5 hours or until meat is tender. Pick meat with a fork into large pieces and leave in the liquid to cool.

To finish the plate

• 1 cup diced butternut squash
• 1 cup diced turnip
• 1 cup diced parsnip
• 1 bunch kale
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• salt to taste

Gear

• two large pots
• pasta basket/colander 
• wooden spoon
• cutting board
• chef’s knife

Method

Fill one of the pots with salted water and bring to a boil. 

Dice the root vegetables. Tear kale off stem and roughly chop.

Heat second pot and sauté the vegetables until tender in the butter and olive oil.

To the vegetables, add the braising liquid from the neck and pulled venison meat. Reduce until thick.

Cook the fresh cavatelli in the pot of boiling water for three to five minutes.

Transfer cavatelli to the ragu, stirring with the wooden spoon. Add cheese and cook for an additional two minutes.

Spoon into serving bowls and top with more grated parmesan.

Roast Duck Breast with Maple Baked Beans and Grits

Serves 4-6

Maple Baked Beans

• 1 medium-sized can kidney beans
• 1 medium-sized can tomatoes, puréed
• 1 tsp chilli flakes
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp. allspice
• 2 tbsp. molasses
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 bunch thyme
• 1 large chorizo sausage, sliced

Method

Cook the beans, sliced chorizo sausage and herbs in the tomato purée with the spices, molasses and maple syrup for eight to 10 minutes

Grits

• 500 ml. grits
• 250 ml. grated smoked cheddar
• 113 g. butter 
• 1 tsp. salt 

Method

Soak grits in 2 L. water and let sit out overnight covered at room temperature.

In a medium-sized, heavy-bottom pot, simmer the grits on very low temperature for one to two hours or until thick.

Once the water has been absorbed and the grits are soft, add cheddar, butter and salt. Whisk to combine.

Roast duck

• 4 duck breasts
• 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Gear

• cast-iron skillet

Method

Season duck breasts with salt and pepper.

Pre-heat cast-iron skillet on medium-high heat.

Add vegetable oil, then turn the heat down to low-medium and sear the duck breasts skin side down for three to four minutes or until skin is crispy. If the duck starts to curl, a small pot or a pan can be used to press them down so the skin cooks evenly.

Flip the breasts and gently cook the meat side down for one minute. If using a smaller wild duck breast that is much thinner than a mallard, adjust cooking times accordingly. 

After searing the breasts, let rest for two minutes before slicing.