Venison Wellington

Serve up a game version of the classic dinner party puff pastry parcel with mushroom duxelles, prosciutto and mustard

• Cooking Time Prep 50 mins
  Cook 1 hr, 20 mins
• Skill Level Moderately easy
• Servings Serves 6

Nutrition per serving

• Kcalories

  687

• Protein

  55g

• Carbs

  31g

• Fat

  37g

• Saturates

  17g

• Fibre

  1g

• Sugar

  3g

• Salt

  2.8g

Ingredients

• 700g trimmed loin of venison (see tip, below)
• 1 tbsp olive oil, plus a little extra
• 1½ tbsp English mustard
• 50g butter
• 1 large shallot, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 400g chestnut mushrooms, very finely chopped in a food processor
• 1 tbsp finely chopped thyme leaves
• 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley
• 2 tbsp brandy
• 12 slices prosciutto
• plain flour, for dusting
• 375g pack all-butter puff pastry
• 2 egg yolks, beaten
• mashed roots (see recipe, below), to serve
• gravy (see tip box, below), to serve

Directions

1. To see step-by-step images for for this recipe, please see the tips, below left, for a link to our guide page. Dry the venison with kitchen paper, then season well. Heat the oil in a frying pan and sear the meat all over for about 8 mins. Brush with mustard, leave to cool, then chill for 20 mins. Reserve any juices for the gravy.
2. Melt the butter and soften the shallot and garlic. Add the mushrooms, herbs and seasoning, and cook for 10 mins until you have a paste-like mixture. Add the brandy and cook until it's evaporated. Leave to cool.
3. Overlap 2-3 sheets of cling film on a clean surface and lay the prosciutto in 2 rows, slightly overlapping each slice. Spread the cooled mushroom paste all over the prosciutto, creating a thin, even layer.
4. Place the fillet in the centre of the mushroom mixture. Using the edge of the cling film, carefully draw the layer of prosciutto and mushroom around the meat.
5. Roll into a sausage shape, twisting the ends of the cling film as you do, to form a tight log. Chill for 30 mins to firm up.
6. On a lightly floured surface, roll the pastry to a rectangle a little larger than a magazine, and trim the edges to neaten.
7. Carefully unwrap the prosciutto parcel and lay in the middle of the pastry.
8. Fold over the bottom half of the pastry. Lightly brush the rest of the sheet with beaten egg.
9. Roll the whole thing around the meat to encase. Neatly fold under the shorter edges to create a parcel.
10. Transfer to a baking sheet and, using your hands, smooth the pastry around the meat, pressing it firmly to avoid any air being trapped. Brush the pastry all over with beaten egg yolk.
11. Chill for at least 30 mins or up to 24 hrs. Then, using the back of a knife, mark the pastry, being careful not to cut all the way through. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7.
12. Lightly oil a non-stick baking tray and heat until hot. Put the Wellington on the tray and bake for 30 mins (35 mins for well done). Remove from oven, brush with extra egg and rest for 20 mins.

Categories: All Christmas