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Smoked Venison with White Sauce

If Big Bob Gibson was nowhere to be found at the restaurant, there was a good chance he would be on the lake or in the woods. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed not only hunting and fishing, but also cooking his catch. He passed this love of the outdoors on to his kids, especially Cotton, who would leave for the family hunting camp in mid-October and return home in February. As word spread of Big Bob’s smoked venison with white sauce, hunters started dropping their fresh deer meat by the restaurant to have it cooked. During hunting season, venison appeared with regularity on the pits. This dish, similar to a large pot roast with chunks of tender vegetables, is a favorite of local hunters. To this day, the rich aroma of venison can sometimes be smelled in the kitchens of Big Bib Gibson Bar-B-Q, especially during the fall and winter months of hunting season.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 10 to 12

Ingredients

1 venison hindquarter (12 to 15 pounds)
1/2 cup vegetable oil, olive oil, or melted Lard

Dry Rub

1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons brown sugar
4 peeled potatoes, cut in quarters
3 onions, cut in half
3 carrots, cut in large chunks
8 cups Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q White sauce (page 218)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Build a fire (wood or a combination of charcoal and wood) for indirect cooking by situating the coals on only one side of the grill, leaving the other side void.

    Step 2

    Hand trim the silver membrane, or silver skin, from the venison hindquarter. Coat the venison with 1/4 cup of the oil. In a small bowl, mix the dry rub ingredients together, and apply a coat to the entire hindquarter.

    Step 3

    When the cooker reaches 250°F, place the venison over the void section of the grill and cook for 4 hours.

    Step 4

    Transfer the venison to a large roasting pan and coat with the remaining 1/4 cup of oil. Arrange large chunks of potatoes, onions, and carrots around the venison. Pour the white sauce over the meat and cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil. Finish cooking at 250°F for 5 hours. Let the meat rest, covered, at room temperature for 30 minutes prior to serving.

  2. Cooking Method

    Step 5

    Indirect heat

  3. Suggested Wood

    Step 6

    Hickory, Oak, Cherry

Big Bob Gibson's BBQ Book Cover
Big Bob Gibson's BBQ Book by Chris Lilly. Copyright © 2009 by Chris Lilly. Published by Crown Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved.
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