Venison Stew

Dish Description
Simple and versatile stew. This is the ‘base’ recipe I use and add or change to whatever I have on hand.
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons bacon grease
  • 2 pounds venison, cut into chunks
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon ground thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 pound small red potatoes, chopped
  • 4 carrots, chopped
  • 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • 1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions
  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
  • Heat bacon grease in an oven-proof pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook and stir venison in the hot grease until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer venison to a plate using a slotted spoon. Add onion to hot grease; cook and stir until tender, 4 to 5 minutes.
  • Mix garlic, tomato paste, and anchovy paste together in a small bowl; add to onions. Stir flour into onion mixture until dissolved.
  • Pour wine, beef broth, and chicken broth into the pot; bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off of the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Add thyme and bay leaves to pot and bring liquid to a simmer. Return venison to pot. Cover pot.
  • Simmer stew in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Add potatoes, carrots, and mushrooms to stew and simmer in the oven until potatoes are tender, about 1 hour more. Add peas and stir.