VENISON SMOKER RECIPES

Steps:

• Slice the meat against the grain between 1/8-inch and 1/4-inch thick. This is easier to do when the meat is chilled in the freezer for an hour or hasn’t fully defrosted. Place all the sliced meat in a large, resealable bag.
• If you have a mortar and pestle, smash the garlic cloves until you reach a rough paste. Mix the garlic with the water, soy sauce, pink curing salt (Prague powder #1), red wine vinegar, black pepper, and sugar until well blended.
• Pour the liquids into the bag with the meat and mix to coat each piece on both sides. Marinate in the fridge for at least 12 hours and up to two days, tossing and mixing the bag periodically.
• Prepare a smoker according to manufacturer’s settings using your choice of wood. Pre-heat to 160 degrees.
• Remove the meat from the marinade and squeeze off excess liquid. Lay each piece of meat on a metal grid or pizza screen. If you have the time and space, let the pieces air-dry for a few hours in the refrigerator so it will absorb more smoke.
• Smoke the venison for 3 to 4 hours. It should be fully dry but still pliable. If your smoker cannot get below 180 degrees, you can opt to smoke for 1 hour to impart flavor, then switch to a traditional dehydrator set at 145 to finish. This will prevent the jerky from becoming bitter or too brittle.
• Once completely cool, store in an airtight bag for 1 to 2 months. The jerky can also be refrigerated for 3 to 6 months or frozen for a year.
• Note: Pink curing salt (also known as Prague Powder #1) is a blend of sodium chloride (table salt) and sodium nitrite. It is used to prevent the growth of botulism bacteria, impart the savory flavors of cured meat, and give it a pink color when smoked. Although it isn’t required, I recommend it if you’re storing the meat for more than a few weeks. Do not use more than a teaspoon per 5 pounds of meat.

Steps:

• Trim any skin or fat from meat; cut slits at intervals in surface of roast and fill with garlic and push in some of the chopped bacon; brush meat generously with oil and sprinkle heavily with pepper.
• Pour 1/2 cup wine into water pan of smoker and fill with water; put in place over hot fire.
• Place meat on rack in smoker; cover with lid and smoke 5 hours, feeding with a few charcoal briquets at a time to maintain cooking temperature; baste with remaining oil evry hour, working quickly so as not to disperse heat in smoker.
• Test internal temperature, it should be at 130-135 degrees.
• Place meat in a large Dutch oven, add remaining 1/2 cup wine and simmer 45 minutes longer, or until internal temperature reaches 165-170 degrees.
• Serve hot with gravy or refrigerate and serve cold.
• Venison gravy: cut bacon in small pieces and saute to render fat; stir in flour, add pan juices and broth gradually, stirring until smooth and thickened; taste and add salt and pepper if needed.