Venison loin Wellington

Babiche Martens

Ingredients

800 g	Venison, (2x400g, loins or back strap) (Main)
1	Sea salt and cracked black pepper, (to season)
1 Tbsp	Olive oil, (plus extra)
1 Tbsp	Butter, (plus extra)
1	Dijon mustard
400 g	Portobello mushrooms, (finely chopped)
2 tsp	Fresh rosemary, (finely chopped)
3 cloves	Garlic, (finely chopped)
8 slices	Prosciutto
1	Butter puff pastry, (pre-rolled)
1	Egg
1 Tbsp	Milk
8 handfuls	Spinach leaves, (or pre-packaged bag)
200 ml	Port
100 ml	Beef stock, (or venison stock)
1 Tbsp	Plain flour
2 leaves	Bay leaves

Directions

1. Heat a large frying pan. Season the venison. Heat the olive oil and butter then sear the loins. Leave to brown on each side before turning. Set aside to cool then spread with mustard.
2. Put the mushrooms into the hot pan with the rosemary and garlic. Cook until softened while stirring to make a puree. Cook until the liquid has disappeared. Remove from the pan and let cool.
3. Preheat the oven to 200C. Wrap the venison in the slices of prosciutto. Place the sheets of pastry on the bench.
4. Spread the mushrooms down the centre, leaving room at each end to fold over. Place the venison on top then wrap by folding the ends over first.
5. Whisk the egg and milk together then brush all over the pastry. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.
6. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing into rounds. Arrange a mound of wilted spinach in the centre of each warmed plate, top with the venison and spoon the sauce around .
7. To make the sauce, add the port and stock to the hot pan in which the mushrooms were cooking.
8. Add 1 Tbsp butter then whisk in the flour. Add the bay leaves and let reduce. Season before removing the bay leaves and pouring into a warm jug.
9. To wilt the spinach, put 1 Tbsp butter and 1 Tbsp olive oil in a hot saucepan then add the spinach. Quickly turn with tongs until the leaves have just begun to wilt. Season.