Cavatelli with Venison Bolognese

5.0

(2)

2 Reviews

"I created this recipe for my father-in-law, who is a big hunter," chef Michael Symon says. "I'm always looking for ways to cook up his fantastic venison in the fall and winter." In place of the traditional Bolognese combination of beef, veal and pork, the venison gives this lush sauce a great gamey flavor. Slideshow: More Pasta Recipes Recipe from Food & Wine Best New Chefs All-Star Cookbook

By

Michael Symon

Updated on July 27, 2023

Tested by

Food & Wine Test Kitchen

Cavatelli with Venison Bolognese — Photo: © Chris Court

Active Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

2 hrs

Yield:

8

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Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil
2 pounds ground venison (see Note)
Kosher salt
1 onion, diced (2 cups)
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 carrots, finely diced
2 celery ribs, finely diced
1 cup dry red wine
One 28-ounce can whole plum tomatoes
1 fresh bay leaf
6 oregano sprigs
2 pounds fresh cavatelli
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Directions

In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil until shimmering. Add the venison, season with salt and pepper and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the venison to a colander set over a bowl and let drain.
Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the pot. Add the onion and garlic and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, 7 to 8 minutes. Stir in the carrots and celery and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, then add the wine. Simmer until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes, bay leaf, oregano and the drained venison and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally and breaking up the tomatoes, until the venison is very tender and the sauce has thickened, about 1 1/2 hours. Discard the bay leaf and oregano sprigs.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain, reserving 2 cups of the cooking water. Add the pasta and 1 cup of the cooking water to the Bolognese sauce and simmer over moderate heat, tossing, until the pasta is nicely coated. Add more pasta cooking water if the sauce seems too thick. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cheese and butter. Season with salt and serve immediately.