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Photo by Holly A. Heyser
Since it is morel season once again, I thought I’d update this recipe from March 2008. ~Hank
Morels are, in my opinion, the best mushroom to pair with a red meat like venison, although porcini are pretty damn good, too. Morels just smell so… woodsy. That aroma, mixed with the dense richness of medium-rare venison, comes together to make the Cadillac of game dishes, at least to me. I’d serve this to even the most jaded or discerning palate.
Venison with morel sauce is simple, but not cheap. It’s a perfect date-night dish and is a great way to turn someone who might be squeamish about either venison or wild mushrooms. I always use either the tenderloin or the backstrap of venison for this recipe; I find the leg steaks too tough for such a special dish. It also can be done with filet mignon if you cannot find venison or antelope medallions, but it needs to be this kind of cut.
You could use pork or wild boar loin, too, but be sure to cook it to medium, not medium-rare. A blush of pink is what you’re looking for if you use boar or pork.
As for the morels, don’t skimp. Use even more than this recipe calls for if you have them. They cook down a lot and their flavor is really what makes this dish. It’s one of my favorite recipes for springtime!
Photo by Holly A> Heyser
VENISON with MOREL SAUCE
Morel mushrooms and venison, or antelope, or bison, or even the common steak, are a marriage far more successful than most pairings between mushrooms and meat, which can often compete with one another. This dish is simple, deep and delicious.
But don’t skimp on the morels, or the quality of any ingredient: You and your family will notice. Can’t find them? You can sometimes find dried morels in supermarkets, or you can buy morels online. You could also substitute shiitake mushrooms.
My original version of this dish was made with venison loin (backstrap) and mostly dried morels. I’ve also done it with venison tenderloin and fresh morels. Both versions are below.
Serves 4.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
- 1 1/2 pounds venison medallions, cut 3/4 to 1 inch thick, or the tenderloins from a large deer
- Salt and fresh ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil or canola oil
MOREL SAUCE
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 tablespoon minced shallot
- 1/4 cup dried morels, soaked in water for several hours – or about 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh morels
- 1 cup venison or beef stock or 1/4 cup veal demi-glace
- 1/2 cup Port wine (something you would drink)
- Salt to taste
- In a small saucepan, reduce the stock and the water you soaked the morels in over high heat until you are left with about 1/2 cup of liquid. Turn off the heat and set aside. Obviously skip this step if using fresh morels, and do not include the demi-glace if using.
- Take the venison out of the fridge and salt it liberally. Let it rest at room temperature for 20-30 minutes.
- Heat a pan over high heat for 2 minutes. Turn the heat down to medium-high and place the fresh morels down on the pan to heat. They will release their water quickly. Let this simmer until the water is almost all gone, then add 3 tablespoons of butter and shallot. saute for 3-4 minutes, stirring often. Remove and set aside. If you are using dried morels, you do not need to dry-cook them first.
- Either wipe the pan down or use another one. Heat it over high heat for a minute or two and add the grapeseed oil. Heat this for 1 minute. Pat the venison dry with a paper towel and place it in the pan. Sear it for 3-4 minutes on one side, then flip. Let it cook through to your taste on the other side without flipping again. Look for about another 1-3 minutes, but I use the finger test for doneness. Remove meat from pan and set aside under foil to rest.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of butter and let it melt over medium heat. Add the flour and stir to combine to make a roux. Cook this for 2 minutes. Add the port wine and stir to combine. It will thicken immediately, and if it turns to a paste add the morel water-stock mix you reduced in step one. If it does not turn into a paste, let the port boil a minute, then add the stock or demi-glace. Add the morels. Once the morels are heated through, lay down a pool of the sauce on the plates, then top with venison. Arrange the rehydrated morels around the meat, and top each steak with a half of a fresh morel. Grind black pepper over all and serve at once.
Buy Fresh or Dried Morels Online:
Sadly, I hardly ever encounter morels in the woods. There used to be a saying “You find them near an elm when the oaks’ leaves are the size of a mouse’s ear” or something to that effect.
We liked the sauce so much we made this several times (with shiitakes though) back when there were still backstraps in the icebox. /sheds a tear
As you said, this sauce with a seared-to-perfection medallion would make a convert out of most ‘game-haters’. But, I fear most of them would have reservations about eating game that is not ‘fully cooked’.
This recipe sounds so good. FYI you can get morel mushrooms at Wholefoods if you live near one.
-me
This recipe looks AMAZING. I’ve never come across morels either but it sounds like now’s the time to go hunting for them.
Wow, this looks great and we have a friend with some venison we can use for this (probably can trade some of our blueberries). Of course, we need the morels (which are a favorite). What veg would you serve with this? Asparaugus? Fiddleheads?
I recently discovered your blog and I am a big fan. We grow a lot of our food, cure meat and are getting deeper into charcuterie. We are getting closer to our food, if you know what I mean. It has been a good experience for our whole family. I look forward to reading more of the blog and making more of your recipes.
Thanks!
I made this a couple months ago but it didn’t look like yours. I ended up with a bit of a burnt grandma gravy taste. I must have gotten things too hot at the end. I think I’ll have to try again!
Going to hunt for morels in the Kansas City area this afternoon. I think this sauce would be wonderful with rare/medium rare duck breast for an anniversary dinner next weekend.
Greg: I think you’re right! Duck and morels are a good match.
Greg, The idea of duck breast with this sauce is right on the money! Add some wild rice with dried cherries in it and for God sakes drink a decent Pinot Noir with dinner!
Yes, definitely wild rice. And a sauce I have made for duck breast is a reduction with shallots, dried plums, and Pinot! I had a bottle of Pedro Jimenez that was a gift, and I made a reduction some of it and shallots. It was incredible! The P.J. tastes (to me) like prunes, so after pricing another bottle I went with the dried plums. Just as good.
I usually serve with wild rice and roasted pears with blue cheese and toasted pecans on arugula. My favorite dish. BTW, we only found 2 morels on Sunday, but they were tasty!
[...] Venison with Morel Sauce [...]
I made this meal the other night and it was a HUGE hit! Used Ohio venison tenderloins and Virginia ramps and morels. I only write down recipes for the recipe box that are really a success and this one made the cut! Thanks, Hank!
[...] Venison medallions with morel mushroom sauce from Hank Shaw, seasonal, local food enthusiast and author of the honest food blog. [...]
[...] also took a little time to explore Hank Shaw’s amazing and nationally recognized blog for morel recipes, such as his favorite morel sauce for venison. My pantry is well stocked and I [...]
Love your venison, wild boar and salmon recipes!!!. I live in Bariloche , Patagonia and we have all of these down there. My father was a hunter, my children and I are fishermen. Saludos de Argentina
Hi Hank,
My husband and I have recently become big fans of your site. We used your backstrap with morel sauce recipe for Christmas eve dinner. It was a huge hit. I referenced your blog in my blog post about our holidays, and included a link to the recipe. I hope that is okay? Thanks for posting such great recipes and information.
Jennifer
http://momslash.blogspot.com/2013/01/momchefthe-holiday-food-post.html
[...] father-in-law (aka eagle eye) brought us some morels the other day and I always like to make venison with a morel port sauce the first time we have morels. Alongside some fresh picked asparagus we ended our Sunday Funday [...]