Maple and Habanero Axis Snack Sticks
If you’re looking for a delicious way to create axis venison meat sticks on your next deer hunt, you’ve got to try this recipe.
Maple and Habanero Axis Snack Sticks
Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users
Category
Snack
Cuisine
American
Servings
72 snack sticks
Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Calories
49
I hunt axis deer every year, and my Maple and Habanero Axis Snack Sticks are always a hit at deer camp.
The combination of the habaneros’ sweet heat and maple syrup’s rich, earthy flavor is a match made in heaven. If you’re looking for a delicious way to create axis venison meat sticks on your next deer hunt, you’ve got to try this recipe.
Author:Joshua Schwencke
This recipe comes to us from Joshua Schwencke, a South Texas-based executive chef, founder of Gastronomy Live Events, and friend of Montana Knife Company.
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 lb. ground axis venison
- 2 cups cold water
- 2 fresh habanero chilies, crushed
- 1/4 cup 100% maple syrup
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 Tbsp. onion powder
- 3 Tbsp. ground mustard
- 1 oz. salt
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 16mm collagen casings
Directions
Set your smoker to 250°F. Use hickory wood if you have it.
Mix the spices in a bowl and set aside. Put on gloves and mix the ground venison meat, water, and crushed habaneros in a large bowl. Add the spice mixture and mix well.
Slide a collagen casing onto your sausage stuffer horn. Tie off one end, then stuff the venison meat sticks mixture in. You want them packed well but not overstuffed. Tie off the other end with butcher’s twine when the casing is full. Repeat until you use all the mixture.
Hang the sticks in your smoker and let them go for about 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Take the smoked venison meat sticks out and let them cool for a few minutes. Slice them into 4-inch lengths with a good, sharp knife. (I prefer ones made from high-carbon stainless steel; they hold an edge like nobody’s business.)
Pack them into airtight bags or vacuum seal them, then store them in the fridge.
Recipe Note
Pro Tips for Axis Venison Meat Sticks
- Always wear gloves when handling hot peppers like habaneros. To tone down the spice level, scrape out the seeds and white ribs inside the peppers before crushing them.
- In this recipe, use real, 100% maple syrup. Artificial pancake syrup won’t give you the same richness and depth of flavor to balance the heat.
- No sausage stuffer? No problem. Instead, you can use a jerky gun with a 16mm horn attachment to stuff your casings.
- These venison snack sticks keep for two weeks in the refrigerator or up to six months in the freezer.
Try this recipe next time you’ve got some extra axis venison on hand. The sweet heat combo is seriously addictive, so don’t say I didn’t warn you!
With the right tools and ingredients, you’ll crank out batch after batch of these spicy, smoky venison meat sticks. Happy snacking.
