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Wild Maryland Cookbook​


Butchering Information


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DNR Cookbook

Sika Deer Bolognese

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photo of Sika deer bolognese

Submitted by Gabrielle Perret

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Directions

If you prefer your sauce thicker, add a can tomato paste. If you like a creamy flavor, add a half cup of heavy cream. You can use dried herbs for this recipe, but nothing beats fresh!

Brown the ground sika deer over medium-high heat in 2 tablespoons oil. When deer is browned, add the garlic, onion, parsley, thyme, bay leaves, oregano, salt (to your taste), and carrots. When carrots and onion are cooked through, add the butter and can of tomatoes, breaking up the tomatoes while stirring. Simmer covered. Break up tomatoes and stir.

While the sauce is simmering, boil pasta in salted water according to package directions. 1 minute before pasta is done, add 1/2 cup of the pasta water to sauce. Drain the pasta and add it to the sauce. Pasta should be al dente and soaking up the liquid.

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​Ingredient​s​

  • 1 to 1.5 lbs ground Sika deer
  • 1 20 oz can whole peeled or crushed tomatoes
  • 2 cloves fresh garlic, finely chopped or pressed
  • 1 chopped medium white onion
  • 2 finely chopped large carrots
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1/2 stick butter
  • fresh thyme, parsley, and oregano
  • 4 bay leaves
  • salt, to taste
  • 1/2 cup sturdy red wine, like Cabernet, Merlot, or Bordeaux
  • 1 lb hearty pasta, like rigatoni

Serving Suggestions

Serve immediately with a glass of the wine you used to prepare the recipe.