Crispy Venison Spring Rolls

     Spring rolls are a very versatile dish. Some come fried or with a softened rice paper wrap on the outside, while there are a variety of fillings to satisfy your taste buds. We have a recipe here for you that's a bit unconventional for venison. Venison is most popularly used in stews and soups but not everyone enjoys the taste of deer meat and may need something lighter to get them used to the taste. Spring rolls are a nice crispy appetizer that might just convince people who swore off deer meat a long time ago. 

    Ingredients 

• 1 1/2 cups of venison from backstrap tenderloin or hindquarter
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger minced
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 2 tablespoons peanut oil
• 1/4 cup dried apricots 
• 1 cup cabbage shredded
• 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves
• 8 egg roll wrappers  
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water
• oil for frying

    Dipping Sauce 

• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce (in the Asian section of your grocery store)
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar or white wine vinegar

Instructions  

1. Whisk together dipping sauce ingredients in a small bowl
2. Slice venison as thinly as possible into 2-3 inch strips. Combined slice venison with next three ingredients, and marinate for 1 hour. Remove meat from marinade and drain. Stir-fry meat in hot peanut oil for 45 to 60 seconds over high heat in a wok or skillet Transfer to paper towels to cool. 
3. In a small bowl, combine apricots, cabbage and cilantro. For each spring roll, lay the wrapper on a flat surface, and place about 2-3 tablespoons of the of the cabbage mixture on the lower third of the wrapper, forming an area of about 1-inch tall by 3 inches wide. Arrange cooked meat on top of cabbage. Turn in sides of wrapper to just overlap stuffing. Begin rolling egg roll by starting at the edge nearest to you and rolling away from you, like a burrito. When you get to the edge, moisten it with a little of the cornstarch mixture to seal the edges like glue. 
4. Heat 3-4 inches of oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat. When hot, carefully add spring rolls, one or two at a time, into the oil, and fry until golden brown. Drain fried rolls on paper towels. Arrange on a plate, and serve with dipping sauce on the side.

    Running low on venison meat?  Take a trip to Hidden Hollow Whitetail Ranch for a guided hunt! Have a blast on our private whitetail hunting preserve and even enjoy a home-cooked meal after the hunt. Visit our website to learn more about our services. Save your kill out on the hunt and try using the deer meat on this new spring roll recipe!