A lean and tender centrepiece, this wild venison saddle recipe is perfect for impressing your Christ

Ingredients

• VENISON ROAST
• 1kg Rolled saddle of Venison
• Chicken schmaltz or Duck fat to roast
• SAUCE
• 1 x onion roughly diced
• 1 x carrot roughly diced
• 2 x sticks celery roughly diced
• 1 x head garlic split
• Few fresh thyme leaves
• 1 x orange zest & juice separate
• 500ml rich chicken or game stock
• 75ml aged balsamic vinegar
• 75ml liquid honey
• Pinch of sea salt flakes
• 2 x star anise
• 1 x cinnamon stick
• 10 x juniper berries crushed
• 10 x black peppercorns crushed
• Few sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 tsp. cornflour mixed with a little cold water