Preheat the oven to gas 3 / 170C / 325F or set a slow cooker / crockpot on high
Season the flour with salt & pepper then toss the venison in the flour. Melt the sunflower spread in a frying pan and brown the diced venison. Don't cook it right through
Remove the venison from the pan and put it into a large casserole dish or slow cooker. Put the pan back on the stove
Layer the onion on top of the venison in the casserole dish, then the butternut squash / sweet potato then the apple
Pour the cider into the frying pan. Bring it to the boil then stir in the cinnamon, worcestershire sauce & maple syrup and take off the heat
https://cookpad.com/us/recipes/338187-vickys-homemade-worcestershire-sauce-vegan
https://cookpad.com/us/recipes/332952-vickys-soy-sauce-substitute
Pour into the casserole dish, put the lid on and cook for 2.5 - 3 hours in the oven or for 4 - 5 hours on high in the slow cooker, adding the peas in the last 20 minutes of cooking
Let stand 10 minutes then toss very gently to mix before serving
To thicken the gravy, strain the liquid into a saucepan and boil. Add 2 tsp gravy granules or 2 tsp cornflour mixed with 1 tbsp cold water into the pan and stir. Keep stirring throughout to avoid clumping
Add the gravy back into the casserole and serve with crusty bread or seasonal vegetables
Bisto Original Gravy Granules in the brown cardboard rectangular box is dairy, egg and soy-free with but contains wheat which is a shame as the main ingredient is potato starch. Bisto Best Gravy in the glass jars are free from gluten, dairy and egg but contain soya lecithins. There are other free-from gravy granules available such as the Kallo brand that are also gluten-etc-free
