Passing It On
For chef & ambassador Mark LaBrooy, fatherhood has made the outdoors even more meaningful.
"The places and pursuits that shaped my life now have a whole new purpose as I share them with my children Whether it's teaching them where food comes from, passing on skills, or exploring the bush together... Creating memories through these shared experiences is one of the greatest privileges of fatherhood."
We spent a day in the wild with Mark and his kids. Together, they got their hands dirty, started a roaring fire, and got to cooking up a feast. Empty bowls, and the peace and quiet of the wild - the surest sign of a meal well made.
Wild Pine Mushroom Risotto
with Fire-Grilled Discovered Venison Coil Sausage
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
Risotto
- 200g arborio risotto rice
- 300g wild-harvested pine mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
- 1 small red onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Approximately 1.2L hot venison stock
- 180g unsalted butter
- 100g freshly grated Parmesan
- ¼ bunch flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
To Serve
- 1 × 700g Discovered venison coil sausage
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Method
Heat a YETI cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and sauté the red onion, garlic and pine mushrooms until softened and lightly caramelised.
Stir in the arborio rice and cook for 1–2 minutes until the grains are lightly toasted.
Add the hot venison stock a ladle at a time, stirring regularly and allowing each addition to absorb before adding the next until the rice is tender with a slight bite.
Finish the risotto by stirring through the butter, Parmesan, parsley, lemon zest and lemon juice until rich, glossy and creamy. Season to taste.
While the risotto cooks, heat a YETI skillet over the fire with a little olive oil. Add the 700g Discovered venison coil sausage and cook, turning regularly, until deeply caramelised and cooked through.
Slice the sausage into generous portions and serve over the creamy pine mushroom risotto.