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1
Season the venison with salt and pepper.
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2
Heat a splash of olive oil in a frying pan until hot.
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3
Place the venison in the pan and brown for 30 seconds on each side, making sure that the meat remains raw inside.
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4
Remove from the pan and place in the fridge to chill.
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5
Roll out the pastry on a floured surface to the size of an A4 piece of paper and about 1/2cm thick.
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6
Place in the fridge to rest.
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7
Make the pancakes.
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8
Crack the egg into a bowl, whisk in the flour until smooth, then pour in the milk and whisk to a light batter consistency.
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9
Cook 4 pancakes in a non-stick frying pan, using a small amount of vegetable oil.
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10
Transfer to a wire rack.
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11
Cut the cauliflower lengthways through the centre into 4 slices, leaving the main stalk on.
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12
Lightly whisk the egg in a bowl to make an egg wash for the pastry.
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13
Lay the pastry on a floured surface and cover with the pancakes.
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14
Place the cooled venison in the centre.
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15
Brush the edges of the pastry with egg wash, then roll the pastry around the venison so that it covers it completely.
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16
Fold a small amount of the pastry ends underneath, trimming off the excess first.
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17
Turn the Wellington over so that it is seam side down and brush the top with egg wash.
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18
If you like, you can now gently score the pastry and use any trimmings to make a lattice finish.
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19
Egg wash the top again, then place the Wellington in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (or up to 24 hours).
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20
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7.
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21
Brush a large, heavy baking sheet with oil.
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22
Place the Wellington on the baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes, using a probe or thermometer to make sure the centre of the meat has reached 37C (perfect medium rare).
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23
Meanwhile, heat a splash of olive oil in a large frying pan and place the cauliflower down flat in the pan.
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24
Season generously with salt to prevent the cauliflower from burning (salt draws out the moisture and allows the sugars to caramelize slowly rather than brown), then cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes on one side.
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25
Turn off the heat, and place a small plate or tray on top of the cauliflower.
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26
Leave for 10 minutes so the cauliflower will sweat and draw up the colour from the pan.
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27
Remove the Wellington from the oven and serve immediately, with the cauliflower on the side.