Ingredients
- 5 Maui Nui Venison rib chops
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ small yellow onion diced
- 1 shallot thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ⅓ cup dry red wine
- ½ cup low-sodium beef stock
- 1½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon fennel pollen
- ½ teaspoon fresh rosemary chopped
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- kosher salt
- black pepper
- ½ tablespoon unsalted butter
- Parmigiano-Reggiano to taste
- 2 lbs Japanese sweet potatoes
- 4 tablespoon unsalted butter cubed
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon white miso paste
- white pepper
Method
Braise the Venison
- Season rib chops generously with kosher salt.
- Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high. Sear chops 3–4 minutes per side until deeply browned. Remove and set aside.
- Turn off heat. Add onion and shallot; let them deglaze the pan for 1 minute as they release liquid. Scrape to release fond with a wooden spoon, then turn heat back to medium and cook 5–6 minutes until softened.
- Add garlic; cook 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in tomato paste; cook 2 minutes until caramelized and darkened.
- Deglaze with red wine, scraping up fond, and reduce by half. Stir in balsamic vinegar.
- Add beef stock, Worcestershire, fennel pollen, rosemary, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Return rib chops to pot, nestling them into the liquid.
- Cover and braise on low 2½–3 hours, turning occasionally, until meat is fall-apart tender.
- Remove chops, strip meat from bones, shred, and return meat to pot. Discard bones.
- Simmer uncovered 10–15 minutes to thicken and concentrate the sauce.
- Finish with butter. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
Prepare the Puree
- Roast sweet potatoes whole at 400°F until they collapse when pressed, 60–75 minutes. Skins will darken and wrinkle.
- Halve potatoes lengthwise while hot. Scoop flesh into a bowl, discarding skins.
- Pass flesh through a ricer or food mill twice for silky texture.
- Warm cream and butter in a small saucepan until butter melts. Stir in miso until dissolved.
- Fold warm cream mixture into riced potatoes in small additions, working gently with a spatula until luxurious but able to hold shape.
- Season with salt and white pepper to taste.
To Plate
- Spoon warm puree into shallow bowls, creating a well in the center.
- Ladle ragù over the puree, letting it pool in the well.
- Finish with cracked black pepper, shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, or a pinch of fennel pollen.
Nutrition
Notes
Storage: cover and refrigerate the ragù and sweet potato puree separately for up to 4 days, or freeze the ragù for up to 3 months. Reheat both gently on the stove, loosening the puree with a splash of cream if needed.
