Scandi Venison with Quick Pickled Cabbage | Abel & Cole
Scandi Venison with Quick Pickled Cabbage
Clock Image
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 40 mins
All the flavours of Scandinavia in one sensational supper: wild venison minute steaks rubbed with fragrant caraway, and pickled red cabbage with chervil and juniper. Roast spuds and 'snips on the side are the finishing touch.
This recipe is a:
See this week's box.
Recipe Box Recipe Main Image
493 kcal
(per portion)
Ingredients you'll need
  • 2 parsnips
  • 2 large potatoes
  • ½ red cabbage
  • A handful of chervil
  • 1 blood orange
  • 8 juniper berries
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 2 tsp caraway seeds
  • 2 venison minute steaks
From your kitchen
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • Freshly ground pepper
Step by step this way
  • 1.

    Heat your oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6. Trim and peel the parsnips and cut into quarters lengthways. Lay on a baking traylined with baking paper. Peel the potatoes and cut into small chunks around 1cm across. Drizzle with 1 tsp oil. Season with salt and pepper and toss to mix. Roast for 40 mins till tender and golden brown.

  • 2.

    Slice the cabbage half as finely as possible, discarding any really thick cores. Put in a bowl. Add 1 tsp salt and scrunch together with your hands. Pick the leaves from the chervil sprigs and set aside for later. Finely chop the stalks and add to the bowl.

  • 3.

    Halve the orange and squeeze the juice into a small pan. Add the juniper berries. Pour in 2 tbsp red wine vinegar and 2 tbsp water. Place over a medium heat and bring to the boil. Pour over the sliced cabbage. Toss together and set aside to pickle.

  • 4.

    Meanwhile, tip 2 tsp caraway seeds into a mortar and pestle. Crush them slightly to release their flavour. If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, tip the seeds into a bowl and use the bottom of a jar to crush them till they smell fragrant.

  • 5.

    Place the venison steaks on a plate. Rub ½ tsp oil into each steak, then rub in the crushed caraway seeds with a pinch of salt and pepper.

  • 6.

    Warm a frying pan over a high heat. When it’s smoking hot, add the venison steaks. Fry for 3-4 mins on each side. Cook for another 2 mins if your steaks are quite thick or if you prefer them more well cooked. Pop on a warm plate, loosely cover with foil and rest for 2 mins.

  • 7.

    Serve the venison steaks with the roast parsnips and potatoes, the pickled cabbage and garnished with the chervil leaves.

  • Tip

    In a pickle
    If you end up with more pickled cabbage than you can eat in one go, pop the extra in a bowl, cover with cling film and store in the fridge. It will keep in the fridge for a few days. Lovely in salads with cold meats and cheeses, or stir into stews and simmer till tender.

This recipe is from