Sautéed Reindeer (Sami cuisine)

Name: Sautéed Reindeer (Sami cuisine)
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Scandinavian
Ingredients: 700g Reindeer Meat, thinly sliced (shoulder/haunch; slice while partially frozen); 2 tbsp Butter; 1 Onion, large, thinly sliced; 250ml Water; 1 tsp Salt, fine; plus more to taste; 1/2 tsp Pepper (Black), freshly ground; 1 kg Floury Potatoes, peeled and cut; 60g Butter; 200ml Whole Milk, warmed; 1 tsp Salt, to taste; 200g Lingonberry Jam

Sautéed reindeer is a simple, rustic Sami dish of tender reindeer seared with sweet onions and a touch of butter, then finished with a little cooking liquid for a silky pan sauce. It pairs perfectly with creamy mashed floury potatoes and a bright spoonful of lingonberry jam to cut through the richness.

Sautéed reindeer is a simple, rustic Sami dish of tender reindeer seared with sweet onions and a touch of butter, then finished wi... Show more

Traditional Scandinavian Recipe

Health Grade

B · Healthy

Time

55 min

Price

2,28 €

Calories

827 kcal

healthy

easy

gluten free

high protein

Method

Firm the meat

Place the reindeer meat on a plate or small tray and put it in the freezer for 20 minutes. You want it firmer, not frozen solid — partially frozen meat is much easier to slice very thinly and neatly.

Wash the potatoes

Scrub the floury potatoes under cold running water to remove any dirt, then pat them dry so they are easier to peel and handle.

Prep the vegetables

Peel the potatoes and cut them into even chunks, about 4–5 cm wide, so they cook at the same rate. Peel and thinly slice the onion; fairly fine slices will soften nicely and blend into the finished reindeer.

Slice the reindeer

Take the chilled reindeer out of the freezer. Trim away any tough sinew if needed, then slice the meat as thinly as you can across the grain. If it starts to soften and resist the knife, return it to the freezer for a few minutes before continuing.

Boil the potatoes

Put the potato chunks into a large pot, cover them by about 2.5 cm with cold tap water, and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce to a steady simmer and cook for 15–20 minutes, until a knife slides in easily with no resistance.

Heat the skillet

Set a large heavy skillet or sauté pan over medium heat and let it warm through so the butter melts evenly and the meat starts sautéing right away.

Sauté onion and meat

Add 2 tbsp butter to the hot pan. When it has melted and foamed, add the sliced onion and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until softened and lightly golden, about 5 minutes. Add the sliced reindeer and sauté for 2–3 minutes, turning and separating the slices so they brown lightly instead of clumping together.

Simmer and season

Pour in the water, then add 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Lower the heat so the liquid barely bubbles, cover loosely, and simmer for 15 minutes. The meat should be tender, and there should still be a little savory buttery liquid in the pan.

Drain the potatoes

When the potatoes are tender, drain them well and return them to the hot pot for 1 minute, shaking the pot gently, so excess moisture can steam away. This keeps the mash fluffy instead of watery.

Mash until smooth

Warm the whole milk until just hot, not boiling. Mash the drained potatoes, then beat in the remaining 60 g butter and enough warm milk to make them smooth and soft. Season with salt to taste, starting with about 1 tsp, and keep the mash warm until serving.

Plate and serve

Spoon the mashed potatoes onto warm plates, then add the sautéed reindeer and onions over or alongside them. Finish each plate with a generous spoonful of lingonberry jam on the side, and serve right away while everything is hot.

Ingredients

Method

For 4 servings

Adjust servings

Sautéed reindeer

700g Reindeer Meat, thinly sliced (shoulder/haunch; slice while partially frozen)
2 tbsp Butter
1 Onion, large, thinly sliced
250ml Water
1 tsp Salt, fine; plus more to taste
1/2 tsp Pepper (Black), freshly ground

Mashed potatoes

1 kg Floury Potatoes, peeled and cut
60g Butter
200ml Whole Milk, warmed
1 tsp Salt, to taste

Serving

200g Lingonberry Jam

Nutrition

Per Serving.

Calories

827 kcal

41% of Daily kcal

Protein

59 g

100% RDI

Fat

28 g

14g sat fat

Carbs

82 g

30% RDI

Sugar

30 g

61% RDI

Fiber

6.6 g

22% RDI

Salt

3.8 g

76% RDI

Quality Profile

Scored against dietary guidelines.
Tap rows for a deeper breakdown.

Composite score - weighted by current nutrition science

B · 7.3 / 10

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