As the autumn chill descends, our cravings turn towards comforting, soul-warming dishes. Embrace the season's essense with a Slow Cooker Venison Stew, enhanced by The Bearded Butchers Bold Blend- a bold and intense seasoning that unlocks the venison's full-bodied flavor, creating an unforgettable culinary experience.
Ingredients:
- 3 pounds venison stew meat
- 2 tablespoons Bearded Butcher Bold Blend Seasoning
- 3 pounds red potatoes, peeled and cubed into 1-inch pieces
- 2 cups celery, chopped
- 2 cups sweet onion, coarsely chopped
- 2 cups carrots, peeled & chopped
- 2 (16 oz) cans tomatoes
- 4 tablespoons tapioca starch (thickener)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 3-4 cups hot water
- Fresh parsley or thyme, or herbs of your choice
Instructions:
- Pat the venison cubes dry with paper towels to remove the excess moisture. This will ensure better browning and prevent the meat from steaming in the slow cooker.
- Season the venison generously with the Bearded Butcher Blend Bold Seasoning.
- Place the seasoned venison cubes in the bottom of a large slow cooker.
- Add the chopped celery, onion, and carrots on top of the venison meat.
- Add the diced tomatoes, brown sugar, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker.
- Distribute the cubed potatoes evenly over the mixture.
- Pour in enough hot water to cover the ingredients by about an inch.
- Cover the slow cooker with its lid and set it to low heat.
- Cook the stew for approximately 8-10 hours, or until the venison is fork-tender and the vegetables are cooked through.
- Stir the stew after an hour of cooking to evenly distribute the flavors. Stir occasionally throughout the cooking progress.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the tapioca starch and 3-4 tablespoons of cold water to form a slurry. This will prevent the starch from clumping when added to the hot stew.
- Gradually stir the slurry into the stew, allowing it to thicken to your desired consistency.
- Garnish the stew with fresh herbs like parsley or thyme for a touch of brightness and visual appeal.
- Serve the slow cooker venison stew warm!
Additional Tips:
- For an even richer flavor, you can sear the seasoned venison cubes in a skillet over medium-high heat until browned on all sides.
- Adjust the amount of tapioca starch to achieve your desired stew consistency.
- If you prefer a thicker stew, cook if for a shorter period, around 8 hours. For a more tender venison texture, extend the cooking time to 10 hours.
Give this Slow Cooker Venison Stew recipe a try and let us know how you liked it by snapping a picture and tagging us on Instagram and Facebook!