Apple Quail Recipes

ROAST QUAIL WITH APPLES AND PECANS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450°F.
• Quarter and core the apples. Dice half of them and set aside. Thinly slice the remainder lengthwise and set aside.
• In a medium sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the carrot, celery, shallots, and diced apples and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and add the crumbled corn bread, then add the chicken broth, melted butter, thyme, and chopped pecans and toss thoroughly with your hands to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle the cavity of each quail with salt and pepper, then stuff a little of the corn bread mixture inside. Season the outside of the quail with salt and pepper and tie the legs together with kitchen twine.
• Heat the oil over high heat in a heavy ovenproof sauté pan just large enough to hold the quail without touching each other. Add the quail and sear, turning occasionally, until golden, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer the pan to the oven and roast the quail, for 6 to 9 minutes; the breast meat should still be a rosy color.
• Remove the string from the quail before serving.
• TO DRINK: Chinon, Jouget; Pinot Noir, Bethel Heights

QUAIL WITH GRITS, APPLE AND CELERY ROOT

Steps:

• Remove breasts from quails and place in a bowl with 1/4 cup oil and thyme. Chill for several hours. Separate legs and wings from carcasses. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add legs, wings and carcasses and brown, about 5 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon oil and onion, celery and carrot and saute until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in 2 cups water and bring to a boil. Skim, reduce heat and simmer until reduced to 1 cup, about 20 minutes. Strain, discard solids and stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Set aside.
• For grits, melt butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add shallot and garlic and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add 1 1/4 cups water and bring to a boil. Stir in grits, lower heat and cook, stirring often, until thick, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add quail breasts skin side down and saute until golden brown and slightly pink in the center, about 1 minute per side. Remove from skillet, season with salt and pepper and keep warm. Add celery root and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the apple and cook for 1 minute. Stir in grits, 1/2 cup quail broth, 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper.
• Divide grits among 4 plates. Top with breasts and drizzle with broth. Serve immediately.

BROILED QUAIL WITH RAISIN AND APPLE STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler to high.
• In a saucepan, bring the chicken broth to a simmer.
• Heat another saucepan, and add the sausage meat. Cook and stir for 2 minutes, breaking the meat into small pieces. Add the onion, and cook, stirring, until wilted. Add the apple, raisins, couscous, warmed broth, cumin, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, stirring. Cover tightly, remove from the heat, and let stand for 5 minutes.
• Add the gin and coriander, and blend well with a fork. Divide the mixture into 8 portions. Set aside.
• Salt and pepper the cavity of each quail. Add the stuffing with your hands. Crisscross the legs, and flatten the quail so they will cook evenly.
• Pour the butter and oil into a baking dish large enough to hold the quail in one layer. Add the quail, and sprinkle with half of the thyme. Turn the quail in the butter and oil mixture, and sprinkle with salt, pepper and the remaining thyme. Then turn the quail breast side down.
• Place the quail under the broiler about 6 inches from the heat source. Leave the door partly open. Cook them about 4 minutes until lightly browned. Turn the quail breast side up. Return them to the broiler, and basting occasionally, broil for 4 minutes longer or until nicely browned.
• Set the oven at 400 degrees. Place the quail on the bottom rack, and bake for 2 to 3 minutes, basting with the butter and oil mixture and the lemon juice. Serve immediately with the sauce.