Ground venison/bison ideas?

[hoggsback]

My butcher this year mixed venison with bison to make burger. It seems that bison would be too lean for a mix with venison. I haven't tried it yet and am looking for some ideas now. Will this mix be too dry, should I add beef or pork to it also? Anyone tried this mix?

[IceHawk]

Haven't tried that mix but my family and I eat bison all the time it is actually prefered over beef by me and my wife. Bison is very lean. We use our buffalo in recepis the same as we would beef or google bison recipis and you will find a bunch.

[muc33]

I agree, we eat a lot of both. I mix nothing but some tallow with my venison burger. cook low and slow. Best 4 words I can give you. Follow those and you will be fine. Anyone who comes to my house and thinks they are eating ground beef..... ooops! Most likely you are eating ground venison possibly eating ground bison.... but I usually save that for patties. If you want to eat the beef at my house, you have to thank my daugter. She shows cattle and every year and a half, we get to eat one of her 4H projects!!!!! Big ole Sirloins mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[tedl]

I never add fat to my ground venison, whats the point you always drain the fat of any ways. If you have a dehydrator make jerky!!! With out the fat it makes way better jerky because it doesn't have all that oil that ends up sitting on top of every piece. Another idea is hamburger helper, or tator tot hotdish.

[muc33]

tedl, I don't do jerky with mine, I use it for everything you mentioned (if you think for a minute your taco's, or sloppy joes, or tatertot hotdish were from the cattle in the pasture at my house, you are mistaken, my beef is for steaks, roasts, and patties). But to keep it (venison) from cooking dry, adding the tallow allows the meat to stay more full while cooking. At least in my opinion. I have no problem draining fat. I use it to cook with. Grandma taught me well, if you get a fried egg at my house, you will be lucky if it ever actually hits the pan, it will most likely just cook on hot bacon grease. mmmmmmmmm they taste good that way. If you can't tell, I have high colesteral. I also drink at least a half gallon of whole milk a day. My doctor loves me. At least yelling at me.

[tedl]

I totally agree with fat is flavor!!! But when I use my ground venison for hotdish and tacos I don't miss the fat because of all the other liquid and seasoning. I do add the fat to my sausage though, about 50% ground pork.

[BobT]

Try this recipe for vension. It's an easy summer sausage.

3 lbs. ground venison

1 tsp. liquid smoke

8 tsp. pepper

1/2 tsp. onion powder

3 Tbs. tender quick

2 tsp. mustard seed

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1 C. water

Mix all ingredients until well blended. Refrigerate overnight

Roll by hand into 1 lb. logs and wrap with aluminum foil, shiny side in.

Use a knife and cut small slits in the bottom of the roll for drainage while cooking.

Bake in 350º oven for 1 to 1-1/2 hours.

Bob

[hoggsback]

I'll give it a try. Thanks.