Venison Marinade

It’s no secret that wild game is superior in all ways to its factory farmed counterparts. It’s fresher, more nutritious, and isn’t packed full of artificial hormones and antibiotics. Fortunately, Southern Oregon is a paradise for hunters, and their lucky families get to reap the benefits of their efforts in the field with delicious fare for the dinner table. Venison, in particular, is especially abundant in Southern Oregon woods and meadows during the fall deer hunting season. Venison is good no matter how it’s cooked, but you can take it from just good enough to sublime with the help of a good marinade. Following is a basic venison marinade recipe that you can easily amend to suit your individual tastes and preferences and those of your friends and family.

Basic Venison Marinade

• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (can substitute red vinegar or white wine)
• 3/4 cup olive oil (can substitute canola, grapeseed, or sunflower oil)
• 1 minced and mashed garlic clove (can substitute white, yellow, or red onion)
• 1 Tablespoon dried Italian seasoning (can substitute oregano, thyme, or a mixture of the two
• Dash of cracked black pepper

This easy venison marinade lets you add and substitute ingredients until you find the one that works best for you. After whisking the mixture together in a bowl, completely emerge the steaks or roast. Some cooks prefer to do a quick, one-hour marinade, while others like to let the meat soak overnight to release a maximum amount of flavor. Quick marinades work best for fresh, thin-cut steaks, while longer marinades are a better option for thick roasts and meat that has been frozen. Some cooks drizzle leftover sauce over the finished product for one final layer of delicious goodness. It can also be mixed into rice and savory vegetable dishes.

Along with rice and vegetables, game pairs well with piping hot baking powder biscuits and simple salads made from fresh garden greens.

A good wild game dinner starts with proper field dressing and making certain that the animal is skillfully butchered. Many hunters and their families simply don’t have the time to butcher game, which is where The Butcher Shop comes in. We can custom process your game in a clean environment. We can skin, cut, and wrap your game for you, turn it into sausage, salami, jerky, or grind it up for burgers or make it into franks.

The Butcher Shop also carries locally sourced fruits and vegetables, handcrafted baked goods, fresh seafood sourced from community-sustained fisheries, assorted specialty grocery items, artisan cheeses, and an excellent selection of wines. Please feel free to contact us at your convenience for more information about how our products and services can contribute to an enhanced quality of life in Southern Oregon.