Description
Discover how to make succulent Jalapeño Cream Cheese-stuffed Venison Medallions. This recipe offers step-by-step guidance for a gourmet, flavor-packed dish.
Ingredients
- 1/2 to 1 pound (680 g) deer backstrap or tenderloin
- 1 (16 ounce (454 g)) bottle Italian dressing
- 10 fresh jalapeno peppers (3 to 4 inches long)
- 8 ounce (227 g) block of cream cheese (softened)
- 10 slices beef bacon
- Seasoned salt
- Ground black pepper
Instructions
- Slice the venison backstrap into 20 thin pieces, each measuring approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch in thickness, 1 inch in width, and 3 inches in length. Use a meat hammer if necessary.
- Optional: Submerge the slices in Italian dressing in a bowl and let them soak for 2 to 16 hours.
- For smoking, set your pellet grill or smoker to 250°F. For baking, warm up the oven to 375°F.
- Split each piece of bacon into two parts.
- Remove the tops of the jalapeños and cut them in half lengthwise. Take out the seeds and rinse the peppers.
- Fill each jalapeño half with the softened cream cheese.
- Lay a slice of venison backstrap atop each stuffed jalapeño.
- Wrap each filled pepper in half a bacon slice. (If a full wrap isn’t achieved, use a whole slice.) Use a toothpick to hold it together if needed.
- Sprinkle seasoned salt and black pepper to taste.
- Place the wrapped jalapeños directly on the grill grates with a drip pan below.
- Close the lid and smoke them for 1½ to 2 hours at 250°F, until the bacon is crispy and the venison is done.
- Arrange the jalapeño poppers on a broiler pan or a baking sheet with a wire rack to prevent them from sitting in bacon grease.
- Bake in the oven at 375°F for 20 to 30 minutes, until the venison is fully cooked.
- Put them under the broiler for 2-3 minutes per side to crisp up the bacon. (Be cautious to avoid burning.)
- Serve and savor!
Notes
- Marinate venison in Italian dressing for 16 hours for tenderness and rich flavornSoften cream cheese before stuffing jalapeños for smooth, even fillingnUse gloves when deseeding jalapeños to prevent skin or eye irritation
