it’s day two of potato week. today i tried something different. i’ve always been skeptical of the slow cooker. in fact, up until this day, i’ve never used one.
there is something that just doesn’t feel right about throwing a bunch of things into a pot, turning it on, and leaving for the day. it feels like cheating. it feels like i might burn the house down. but we own a slow cooker, and jason really wanted venison roast. this seemed like an appropriate use of the slow cooker. so i did it.
Slow Cooked Venison Roast with Classic Mashed Potatoes
Recipe type: Main Dish
Serves: 4-5
Ingredients
For the venison roast:
- 2 lb piece of venison roast
- 2 large onions, cut into rings
- 3 cups beef broth
- 12 ounces light beer
- 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 4 slices thick cut bacon
- teaspoon of horseradish, as garnish (optional)
For the mashed potatoes:
- 6 medium sized russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place onion rings in the bottom of a slow cooker. Place meat on top. Rub with worcestershire sauce and pepper. Place bacon strips on top of meat (this will help add some fat to the lean venison). Pour in beef broth and beer (the beer helps tame down some of the gamey flavor with its carbonation). Turn slow cooker on low, and cook for 10 hours.
- Go to work, read a book, do whatever your heart desires.
- A ½ hour before the roast is ready, bring a large pot of water to boil. Add in potatoes, and cook until tender, about 20 minutes.
- Remove potatoes from water and mash (using mixer or by hand). Add in cream, butter, salt and pepper and mix until desired consistency is reached. You may need to add a little more cream, depending on how you like your potatoes.
- When the roast is done, transfer the meat and onions to a serving dish. Discard the bacon (all the flavor will have boiled out of them, so while i understand it is upsetting to throw away bacon, trust me). Transfer remaining liquid to a large pot and reduce over high heat for 20-30 minutes, until it's thickened.
- Serve venison on top of potatoes and onions with a little sauce on top.
- (I thought it needed a little kick, so i added a little horseradish to my plate and blended it into the meat. Jason thought it was great without it, so it's a matter of opinion. My verdict on the slow cooker? I still don't love it. But it did make a fine roast.)
and, since today is jason’s official birthday, i thought i’d share the presents i got him. if you’ve ever played the nerdy game settlers of catan, you’ll understand.
[…] later. Last year, I indulged Jason’s fantasy with a week of potatoes for his birthday (here, here, here, here, and here). But this year, I wanted to top it with this ridiculous meal. With the help […]
writes Jason's 30th Birthday Fantasy Meal - things i made today[…] into a discussion about which dishes he liked the best. here are the standings: in first place, the slow cooked venison and mashed potatoes, followed by the gnocchi, the horseradish hash browns, the poached trout with twice-baked potatoes, […]
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