Creamy Stroganoff with Venison Recipe (2024)

Stroganoff, a classic meal that has stood the test of time, is traditionally known for its rich, creamy sauce and tender beef. However, this Creamy Stroganoff with Venison recipe elevates the dish to new heights, blending the robust flavors of venison with a velvety sauce. It’s a perfect way to showcase venison, whether it’s your first time cooking venison or you’re a seasoned wild game meat chef.

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Why Venison?

Venison, a quality red meat often overlooked at the grocery store, is not just for classic venison recipes like stews and ground venison dishes. In a stroganoff, venison offers a lot of flavor, making it an excellent alternative to the traditional beef or ground meat. It’s lean, packed with great flavor, and works wonderfully in a creamy sauce.

Ingredients & Preparation

Venison

You can use either a venison roast or backstrap, sliced into 2-inch long strips. Venison is a versatile meat, so feel free to substitute ground deer meat or venison stew meat if that’s what you have on hand. You can also use beef if you’d prefer. For this recipe we used about 2lbs of meat.

Mushrooms

Fresh mushrooms are key to this recipe. They add a savory depth to the sauce. We use a half of a cup of mushrooms, but feel free to add more or not use them at all.

Sour Cream and Heavy Cream

These ingredients transform the mushroom mixture into the ultimate comfort food with a creamy, rich texture. We will use 1/2 cup of each.

Flavor Enhancers

Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and a good quality beef broth contribute to the delicious flavor of the stroganoff. In this recipe we will use 1 tbsp of each.

Onion

1 medium onion, diced

Garlic

2 cloves, minced

Roux

For the roux we will combine 1 tbsp flour with 1 cup of beef broth and then salt and pepper to taste.

Cooking the Venison

Searing the Venison

In a large skillet or cast iron skillet, melt about 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Sear the venison strips until they reach your desired doneness. This step is crucial for adding a lot of flavor to the meat. For and extra tender meat, you can prepare the venison in a sous vide prior to searing.

Setting Aside the Meat

Once seared, remove the venison and set it aside. It’s important to keep all the browned bits at the bottom of the pan, as they’ll add great flavor to the sauce.

Making the Creamy Sauce

Sautéing Onions and Mushrooms

In the same skillet, add another tablespoon of butter. Add diced onions, minced garlic, and sliced mushrooms, cooking them over medium heat until the onions are soft and translucent.

Creating the Roux

Stir in a tablespoon of all-purpose flour, making sure it’s well incorporated with the onion and mushroom mixture. This flour mixture will help thicken the sauce.

Adding Liquids

Slowly whisk in a cup of beef broth, followed by half a cup of heavy cream. Let the mixture thicken, stirring with a wooden spoon.

Finishing Touches

Stir in the sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Combining with Venison

Return the venison and any accumulated juices to the pan. Let it simmer on low heat until the meat is heated through.

Serving Suggestions

Over Noodles

Traditionally, stroganoff is served over a bed of egg noodles, but wide egg noodles or even Austrian spatzle can be great alternatives. We prefer serving ours over a bed of bone broth rice.

With Potatoes

For those who prefer, serving this stroganoff over mashed potatoes or plain Jane spatzle can be a delicious variation.

As a Low-Carb Option

You can serve it over sautéed greens for a lower calorie diet option.

Storing and Reheating

Leftover stroganoff can be stored in an airtight container and reheated gently over low heat. It’s just as delicious the next time, making it a great make-ahead dish.

Conclusion

This Creamy Stroganoff with Venison recipe is a delightful twist on a classic recipe, offering a heartier and more flavorful take on the Russian dish. Whether you’re experienced with cooking venison or trying it out for the first time, this stroganoff recipe is bound to become a favorite in your home kitchen. It’s not just a meal; it’s homemade comfort food at its best – a delicious way to bring warmth and satisfaction to any table.