Recipe: 15-minute wild venison and gnocchi bolognese

When you find yourself with venison mince tucked away in your freezer, this effortless recipe is a true winner. Savour the rich and delectable flavours of a hearty bolognese sauce paired with a refreshing side salad and a sprinkle of Parmesan for that extra touch of culinary bliss. Bon appétit!

Ingredients

Bolognese

• 1 carrot, grated
• 600g wild venison mince
• 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
• 2 tsp brown sugar
• 4 Tbsp tomato paste
• 400g cherry tomatoes
• ½ cup beef stock
• 100g baby spinach

Gnocchi

• 500g gnocchi
• 1 drizzle of olive oil
• 4 Tbsp grated Parmesan

Salad

• 100g baby leaf lettuce
• 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 ½ Tbsp olive oil

Method

Before you start, bring a pot of salted water to a boil.

Prep and cook Bolognese

Grate carrot. Heat a drizzle of oil in a skillet frypan on high heat. Cook venison mince for about 5 minutes, breaking up with wooden spoon, until browned. Add carrot, spices and sugar and cook for 3-4 minutes, until carrot is tender.

Finish Bolognese

Add tomato paste, cherry tomatoes and stock to pan. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce has thickened. Add spinach to wilt and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Meanwhile, cook gnocchi

Add gnocchi to pot of boiling water and cook for 3-4 minutes, until gnocchi start floating to the surface. Drain and return to pot with olive oil to prevent sticking. Stir through Bolognese sauce and sprinkle over Parmesan.

To finish

In a bowl, toss lettuce with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Serve

Spoon bolognese into bowls. Serve salad on the side.

Recipe courtesy of My Food Bag

Take the hassle out of cooking dinners with My Food Bag. Their new Matariki menu, available throughout July, features native New Zealand ingredients and wild New Zealand game. Choose from Gourmet Butterflied Leg of Lamb, Ultimate Kiwi Lamb Pizzas to Gourmet Premium Kiwi Lamb Roast, and more.

They’ve also partnered with local wild game suppliers WithWild and Premium Game to create wildly delicious recipes this month, from the flavoursome Venison Bolognese (featured above) to tender Seared Venison Steaks, a fragrant Goat Curry, and Venison Pepperoni Pizza.

To find out more, visit myfoodbag.co.nz.