Mary Berry’s Game Casserole is made with mixed game meat, vegetables, red wine, and herbs, enriched with optional bacon and juniper berries. It serves 6 and takes about 2 to 2.5 hours to cook, delivering a rich and hearty meal.
Try More Mary Berry Recipes:
🧡 Why You’ll Love This Game Casserole Recipe:
- Rich, Deep Flavors: The combination of various game meats with herbs and wine results in a complex, deeply satisfying flavor.
- Hearty and Filling: Perfect for cold days, this casserole is both warming and filling, making it an ideal comfort food.
- Nutritious: Game meats are typically leaner and higher in protein than traditional meats, making this dish a healthier option.
- Make-Ahead Convenience: This casserole can be made in advance and reheats well, which is perfect for entertaining or preparing meals for the week.
- Culinary Adventure: Trying different types of game meat can be a culinary adventure, expanding your palate and cooking repertoire.
❓ What Is Mary Berry’s Game Casserole Recipe?
Mary Berry’s Game Casserole features mixed game meat like venison, rabbit, and pheasant, cooked with onions, carrots, celery, and mushrooms in a rich sauce of red wine and stock, seasoned with herbs and optional bacon or pancetta.
🍖 Mary Berry Game Casserole Ingredients
- 2 pounds mixed game meat (such as venison, rabbit, pheasant), cut into chunks
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 onions, finely chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 cups beef or game stock
- 1 cup red wine
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced
- 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Optional:
- Bacon or pancetta, chopped (adds a nice depth of flavor)
- Juniper berries (a few, crushed, to complement game meats)
🍲 How To Make Mary Berry Game Casserole
- If using tougher cuts of game, consider marinating the meat overnight in the refrigerator with a mixture of red wine, olive oil, garlic, and herbs to tenderize it.
- Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot. Brown the game meat in batches to ensure it sears rather than steams. Remove the meat and set aside.
- In the same pot, add the onions, garlic, carrots, and celery. Cook over medium heat until the vegetables are soft, about 5-7 minutes.
- Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir to coat. Cook for a minute to remove the raw flour taste.
- Pour in the red wine and scrape the bottom of the pan to lift any browned bits. Add the tomato paste, beef or game stock, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer.
- Return the browned meat to the pot. Add bacon or pancetta and juniper berries if using.
- Cover and simmer gently for about 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the meat is tender. If using a slow cooker, transfer the contents and set it on low for 6-8 hours.
- About 30 minutes before the end of cooking, add the sliced mushrooms and allow to cook through. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
đź’ Recipe Tips
- Marinating: Marinating the game meat not only tenderizes it but also infuses deep flavors. For best results, marinate overnight, turning the meat occasionally to ensure even flavor distribution.
- Browning the Meat: Make sure the pan is hot before adding the meat. Searing the meat in batches prevents overcrowding and steaming, allowing each piece to develop a rich caramelized crust which enhances the casserole’s depth of flavor.
- Slow Cooking: Low and slow cooking is crucial for game meats, which can be tougher than typical cuts of beef or chicken. Slow cooking breaks down the tough fibers, resulting in tender meat.
- Thickening the Sauce: If the sauce is too thin after the cooking time, you can thicken it by simmering it uncovered for the last 15-30 minutes.
- Adjusting for Potency of Juniper Berries: Juniper berries are quite potent, so start with a few and taste before adding more. They should complement, not overpower, the dish.
- Pre-Cooking Bacon or Pancetta: If using bacon or pancetta, consider rendering it first and using the fat to brown the game meat, adding another layer of flavor.
🥙 What To Serve With Game Casserole?
Serve Game Casserole with Mashed Potatoes or Rice Salad to soak up the flavorful sauce add Three Bean Salad or a side salad for freshness and balance Potato Salad is perfect for sopping up any remaining sauce.
🎚 How To Store Leftovers Game Casserole?
- Refrigerate: Cool leftovers game casserole to room temperature, then transfer it into airtight containers store in the refrigerator where it will keep well for up to 3-4 days.
- Freeze: For longer storage place leftovers game casserole in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags it can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
🥵 How To Reheat Leftovers Game Casserole?
- On The Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (1-75 degrees Celsius) leftovers game casserole into an oven-safe dish cover it and reheat for about 8-14 minutes or until thoroughly warmed through.
- In The Microwave: Place leftovers game casserole in a microwave-safe dish and cover it and heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even heating.
FAQs
What types of game meats can I use in a Game Casserole?
You can use a combination of game meats such as venison, rabbit, pheasant, duck, or wild boar, depending on availability and personal preference.
How do I prepare the game meats for the casserole?
Trim excess fat and sinew from the game meats and cut them into bite-sized pieces for even cooking. Marinating the meats in wine or broth can help tenderize them and enhance flavor.
Can I substitute beef or other meats for game meats in a Game Casserole?
While traditional Game Casserole recipes use wild game meats, you can certainly substitute beef, lamb, or other meats if game meats are not available or preferred. Adjust cooking times as needed.
Can I make a Game Casserole in a slow cooker or Instant Pot?
Yes, you can adapt a Game Casserole recipe for a slow cooker or Instant Pot follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cooking times and settings.
How long does a Game Casserole need to cook?
A Game Casserole typically needs to cook for 2-3 hours at a low temperature (around 325°F or 160°C) to ensure the meats are tender and the flavors have developed.
What type of broth or liquid should I use in a Game Casserole?
Beef or game broth is often used to simmer the meats and vegetables, adding richness to the casserole. You can also use red wine or a combination of wine and broth for added depth of flavor.
Can I make a Game Casserole in advance?
Yes, you can prepare a Game Casserole in advance and refrigerate it before baking. This allows the flavors to meld together, resulting in a more flavorful dish.
Try More Mary Berry Recipes:
- Mary Berry Lentil Shepherd’s Pie
- Mary Berry Ham And Leek Pie
- Mary Berry Salmon And Broccoli Quiche
Mary Berry Game Casserole Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 cup (approximately 240g)
- Calories: 368
- Total Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
- Sodium: 600mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 20g
- Dietary Fiber: 4g
- Sugars: 2g
- Protein: 30g
Mary Berry Game Casserole
Description
Mary Berry’s Game Casserole is made with mixed game meat, vegetables, red wine, and herbs, enriched with optional bacon and juniper berries. It serves 6 and takes about 2 to 2.5 hours to cook, delivering a rich and hearty meal.
Ingredients
Optional:
Instructions
- If using tougher cuts of game, consider marinating the meat overnight in the refrigerator with a mixture of red wine, olive oil, garlic, and herbs to tenderize it.
- Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot. Brown the game meat in batches to ensure it sears rather than steams. Remove the meat and set aside.
- In the same pot, add the onions, garlic, carrots, and celery. Cook over medium heat until the vegetables are soft, about 5-7 minutes.
- Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir to coat. Cook for a minute to remove the raw flour taste.
- Pour in the red wine and scrape the bottom of the pan to lift any browned bits. Add the tomato paste, beef or game stock, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer.
- Return the browned meat to the pot. Add bacon or pancetta and juniper berries if using.
- Cover and simmer gently for about 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the meat is tender. If using a slow cooker, transfer the contents and set it on low for 6-8 hours.
- About 30 minutes before the end of cooking, add the sliced mushrooms and allow to cook through. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
- Marinating: Marinating the game meat not only tenderizes it but also infuses deep flavors. For best results, marinate overnight, turning the meat occasionally to ensure even flavor distribution.
- Browning the Meat: Make sure the pan is hot before adding the meat. Searing the meat in batches prevents overcrowding and steaming, allowing each piece to develop a rich caramelized crust which enhances the casserole’s depth of flavor.
- Slow Cooking: Low and slow cooking is crucial for game meats, which can be tougher than typical cuts of beef or chicken. Slow cooking breaks down the tough fibers, resulting in tender meat.
- Thickening the Sauce: If the sauce is too thin after the cooking time, you can thicken it by simmering it uncovered for the last 15-30 minutes.
- Adjusting for Potency of Juniper Berries: Juniper berries are quite potent, so start with a few and taste before adding more. They should complement, not overpower, the dish.
- Pre-Cooking Bacon or Pancetta: If using bacon or pancetta, consider rendering it first and using the fat to brown the game meat, adding another layer of flavor.