Venison Pie

You’ll forget about all other shepherd’s pies once you’ve tasted this wild-game version, made with venison. While I typically use deer meat, this savoury dish also works well with moose, caribou, elk and antelope.

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground venison
• 4 ounces ground pork
• 1 tbsp canola oil
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup mushrooms, diced
• 1 cup carrots, diced
• 1 cup peas
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary (or 2 tsp dried)
• 1 cup beef or venison stock (or red wine)
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 3 cups mashed potatoes
• 1 cup Asiago, Cheddar or Gruyère cheese, grated

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Brown venison and pork in canola oil in a heavy skillet. Add onions, garlic, mushrooms, carrots, peas, rosemary and stock, then simmer until vegetables soften. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Transfer to a large ovenproof casserole. Cover with mashed potatoes and sprinkle cheese on top. Bake in oven until bubbling and the cheese is golden brown.
4. Crusty bread and a simple green salad or crunchy coleslaw is all you need to complete this meal.