Seared Chipotle and Garlic Venison (600x450)

Seared Chipotle and Garlic Venison

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Game is turning up more and more in many fancy restaurants because, like venison, most of it is low in fat and has about half the calories of most cuts of beef, pork and lamb. All game available from butchers is farm raised and is not as “gamey” as wild meat. Because venison is so low in fat, often the cook needs to add additional oil or fat during the cooking. It is best cooked rare or medium-rare. If you can find it, you can substitute elk for the venison.

Ingredients

Smoky Chile Marinade
4 dried chipotle chiles
1 cup hot water
8 cloves garlic
½ cup chopped onion
1⁄3 cup olive oil
½ cup dry red wine
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard
2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground chile de arbol or other ground hot chiles
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

The Venison
4 venison steaks or substitute beef steaks, 1 inch thick

Instructions

Cover the chipotle chiles with hot water and soak for 30 minutes to soften. Drain and remove the stems and seeds from the chiles.

Sauté the garlic and onion in the oil until soften. Allow to cool. Place all the ingredients, except the venison, in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.

Place the meat in a nonreactive pan, cover with the marinade and marinate, covered, for 2 hours in the refrigerator.

Grill over a medium fire, basting frequently with the marinade and turning often, for about 16 minutes, until rare or medium rare, internal temperature at 150 degrees F. Slice one of the steaks open to check for doneness, if you wish.

Steaks with Chipotle Potatoes

Chimayó Chile Steaks with Chipotle Potatoes

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From the little village of Chimayó, New Mexico comes what many chileheads consider to be the finest tasting red chile. We use it in our enchilada sauces and for making rubs such as this one. The smoky taste of the chipotle potatoes is a nice complement to the grilled steak. Serve the steak and potatoes with mixed green and yellow snap beans and jalapeño cornbread.

Ingredients

Chimayó Rub
2 tablespoons New Mexico ground red chile,
Chimayó preferred
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground thyme

Chipotle Potatoes
2 large baking potatoes
2 to 3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon chipotles in adobo, chopped
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Chopped chives for garnish
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

The Steaks
Olive oil
4 New York Strip steaks

Instructions

Combine all the ingredients for the dry rub in a bowl.

Bake the potatoes until just done. Scoop out the potatoes and whip with the milk, chipotles, garlic, and just enough additional milk to hold them together. Place the potatoes back in the skins. Place the potatoes on the grill, away from the direct flame, and heat the grill.

When the grill is hot, brush the steaks with the olive oil and liberally coat with dry rub. Grill the steaks for about 12 to 16 minutes, turning often, for rare, 15 to 20 minutes for medium-rare (internal temperature 150 degrees F.). You can slice it open to check for doneness, too. Serve with the potatoes.

Chipotle BBQ Sauce

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The smoked red jalapeño, known as the chipotle chile, has gained such 
popularity that there's even a couple of cookbooks devoted to it! It 
particularly works well with barbecuing and grilling, both of which have 
considerable smoke associated with them.

Ingredients

3 dried chipotle chiles
1 cup water
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped fine
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 red bell peppers, quartered, seeds removed
2 onions, sliced thickly
3 tomatoes, cut in half
2 cups ketchup
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar

Instructions

In a bowl, combine the chipotle chiles with very hot water and soak for 
60 minutes or more to soften. Chop the chipotles finely. In a medium 
saucepan, heat the oil and saute the onion. After the onion is 
translucent, add the garlic and continue to saute for 2 minutes.
To roast the bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes, place them on the grill 
over a medium fire and grill until they are soft and slightly blackened. 
Remove, peel, and chop the vegetables.
In a large sauce pan, combine all the ingredients and bring the mixture 
to a low boil over a medium heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 
minutes. Let the mixture cool and puree in a blender or food processor 
until smooth. You can thin the mixture with water if you so desire.

Salsa de Chipotle (Chipotle Chile Sauce)

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From Tlaxcala comes a wonderful sauce that utilizes chipotles, or any 
type of smoked chile. Most commonly, chipotles are smoked red jalapeños. 
This is a table sauce served at room temperature to spice up any main 
dish, including meats and poultry.

Ingredients

10 dried chipotle chiles
4 mulato chiles, or substitute anchos
1/2 onion, chopped
10 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
10 black peppercorns
10 cumin seeds
1/2 cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup vinegar
1 cup water

Instructions

Soak the chiles in hot water until softened, about 1 hour. Remove the 
seeds and stems.
In a food processor or blender, combine the chiles, onion, garlic, olive 
oil, sesame seeds, peppercorns, cumin seeds, cinnamon stick, Mexican 
oregano, and salt and process to a paste.
Heat the olive oil and vegetable oil together in a saucepan and fry the 
paste over medium heat until it is aromatic, stirring constantly, for 
about 5 minutes. Add the vinegar and water, remove from the heat, and 
stir well.

Chipotle Texas Mole Sauce

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This recipe is part of a five-part series devoted to chipotles–those many varieties of smoked chiles. You can go here to start reading–and cooking with–chipotles of all kinds.

Ingredients

4 Chipotle Texas Dried Ancho pods, stems and seeds removed, buy here 
4 Chipotle Texas Dried Pasilla pods, stems and seeds removed, buy here
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 medium tomatoes, peeled and chopped
3 tomatillos, chopped
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup almonds, chopped
1 corn tortilla, torn in pieces
1/4 cup raisins
1/2 teaspoon Mexican oregano
1/4 teaspoon each ground cloves, cinnamon, and coriander
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups chicken broth
1 ounce bitter chocolate (or more to taste)

 

Instructions

Simmer the chiles in a pot of water for 15 minutes to soften.  Remove the chiles and reserve the water.

Combine the chiles, onion, garlic, tomatoes, tomatillos, seeds, almonds, tortilla, raisins and spices in a blender and puree, in small batches, until smooth.

Heat the oil in a large skillet and saute the puree for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.  Add the broth, 1 cup of the chile water, and the chocolate and cook over a very low heat for 30 to 45 minutes, or until thick.