Venison loin with potato gratin

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 1 hr
Total Time 1 hr 10 mins
Cooking Temp: 160  C
Servings: 2
Ingredients
  • For the venison
  • 2 venison loin steaks (about 180–200 g each)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp ground Tasmanian pepper berries
  • Salt
  • Potato Gratin
  • Ingredients (serves 4–6)
  • 1 kg waxy potatoes like Dutch creams, Desiree, or Nicola, (a waxy variety helps with the viscosity of the sauce in the gratin)
  • 2 cloves garlic (1 halved, 1 finely chopped)
  • 200 ml milk
  • 200 ml cream
  • 50 gm butter (plus extra for greasing)
  • 75 gm grated cheddar, smoked cheddar is a fantastic in this
  • Salt & freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
  1. 1
    1. Prep the dish
  2. 2
    Preheat oven to 160 °C
  3. 3
    Rub a halved garlic clove around the inside of a baking dish, then grease with butter.
  4. 4
    2. Prepare the potatoes
  5. 5
    Peel potatoes and slice thinly 2–3 mm into the milk & cream mixture, this helps to trap any starch that leaks out after the potato has been cut.
  6. 6
    Once all potatoes are cut, takeout the slices and layer the potatoes neatly in the dish, overlapping slightly.
  7. 7
    In a saucepan, heat milk & cream, chopped garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper until just simmering. Pour the hot mixture over the potatoes, wiggle the baking dish a little to remove any bubbles,
  8. 8
    Dot the top with butter and sprinkle cheese on top
  9. 9
    Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
  10. 10
    Remove foil and bake a further 30 minutes until golden and potatoes are tender all the way through.
  11. 11
    Let it sit for 10 minutes before serving (helps it set).
  12. 12
    3. Cook the venison
  13. 13
    Pat loin dry, season well with salt and mountain pepper.
  14. 14
    Heat a pan over a medium heat, (you don’t want to burn the pepper), add olive oil.
  15. 15
    Sear venison 2 minutes per side until browned.
  16. 16
    Add butter, then baste the meat for another 2–3 minutes
  17. 17
    Rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
  18. 18
    4. Serve
  19. 19
    Slice venison thickly and place on warm plates.
  20. 20
    Add a generous serving of potatoes on the side.
  21. 21
    Serve with greens, a simple sauce or chutney
Read it online: https://www.lenah.com.au/recipes/venison-loin-with-potato-gratin