Gamekeepers pie with haunch of venison

With less fat and cholesterol than beef but more iron, venison can be used as a substitute for beef and is a very versatile ingredient. A lack of fat can make it a tricky game meat to cook, but follow these venison recipes and you’ll have a deliciously juicy red meat to serve that is much healthier than similar meats.

In addition, venison generally has a better provenance than beef, particularly if you shoot it yourself.

Today venison is freely available in butchers and supermarkets but in the past this wild meat was only available to landowners who hunted it on their estates.

Health benefits of venison

• High Omega 3 levels
• Low cholesterol
• No antibiotics
• Low fat

Venison is becoming increasingly popular and sales of the meat are up. It is of course perfect for those following the ‘Paleo’ diet.

When cooking venison always remember to rest it for 5-10 minutes to encourage the juices to run through.

Our recipes offer plenty of different ways to serve this versatile meat. Many people just think of roast venison, but there is much more to cooking it than that. You can use venison on skewers on a barbecue, or create a venison curry or use venison mince for burgers or lasagne. It’s also wonderful in a terrine, a stir fry or a venison pie.

Venison is lean, so you need to be careful not to overcook it. Searing is generally recommended.

Browse through our venison recipes below for inspiration.