Grilled Quail With Sesame Dressing Recipes

GRILLED QUAIL WITH SOUTH CAROLINA BARBECUE SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the sauce first. Heat the butter over medium heat, then add the onion and sauté until it turns translucent, about 3 or 4 minutes. Add everything else, stir well and simmer slowly for 20 minutes or more. You can buzz it in a blender for a smooth sauce.
• To flatten the quail, use kitchen shears to remove the backbones of the birds by cutting along either side. Put the quail breast side up on a cutting board and press to flatten. If you want to be fancy, carefully snip out the ribs and the curved saber bones near the wishbone. Salt the quail and toss them in the vegetable oil.
• Get your grill hot and lay your quail breast side up. Grill over high heat with the grill lid down for 5 minutes. As it cooks, paint the breast side with the sauce. Turn the quail over and paint the cooked side with sauce. Grill the breast side with the grill cover up for 2 minutes, then turn over again and paint with the sauce one more time. Cover the grill and cook another 2 to 4 minutes. Take off the grill and paint with sauce one more time.

GRILLED QUAIL WITH SESAME DRESSING

Steps:

• Trim off the tips and the first joint of the wings from each quail, and discard. Trim off the neck if necessary. Set quail aside.
• Prepare relish: In a small bowl, gently mix the papaya, crushed red-pepper flakes, jalapeno, lime zest and juice, white pepper, and salt. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving.
• Prepare the poaching liquid: In a small saucepan, combine the soy sauce, tamari, five-spice powder, rice-wine vinegar, and sugar. Measure 2 tablespoons of the poaching liquid and set aside for the sesame dressing. Bring the remaining liquid to a boil. Blanch the quail in the poaching liquid, one by one, while you count to 8, then remove and drain well. Repeat this process one more time. Split each quail in half so that each half has a half breast, leg, and thigh. If you are not cooking immediately, refrigerate until you are ready to grill. The poaching liquid may be frozen and used again. Be sure to bring to a full rolling boil before beginning.
• Prepare the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, lime juice, chiles, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and the 2 tablespoons poaching liquid until the sugar has dissolved. Gradually whisk in the oils, and continue to whisk until fully emulsified.
• Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grill pan with peanut oil. Grill the quail bone-side down, turning them when they are heated through and the skin is caramelized, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from grill pan. Set aside and keep warm.
• Prepare the vegetable: Heat the peanut oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the bok choy and long beans. Stir-fry for 1 minute. Add enough sesame dressing to coat the vegetables lightly, and cook until just tender yet still somewhat crisp.
• Place the vegetables on a large serving plate. Top with grilled quail and some of the relish. Drizzle all over with a little of the remaining sesame dressing. Serve remaining relish on the side.

GRILLED QUAIL SALAD WITH CREAMY GARLIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Make vinaigrette:
• Mince garlic and in a small bowl stir together with mustard, vinegar, and cream. Add oils in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified, and season with pepper and salt.
• Roast and peel bell pepper . Cut pepper into 1/4-inch dice. Separate lettuce leaves from head, leaving them whole, and discard coarse stems from watercress. Cut mushrooms into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
• Prepare grill.
• Halve each quail lengthwise through breast and pat dry. Rub quail lightly all over with oil and season with pepper and salt. Grill quail on a lightly oiled rack set 5 to 6 inches over glowing coals 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until skin is well browned but meat is still pink. (Alternatively, grill quail in a hot well-seasoned ridged grill pan over moderately high heat.)
• In a large bowl toss watercress and mushrooms with just enough vinaigrette to coat lightly. Arrange lettuce on each of 4 large plates and top with watercress mixture and bell pepper. Arrange quail on top of salad and sprinkle with tarragon. Serve remaining vinaigrette on the side.

GRILLED QUAIL, TUSCAN-STYLE

Steps:

• Start wood or charcoal fire or preheat gas grill or broiler.
• Cut along each side of the breastbone of each bird, then straight down through where thigh meets body to get 2 semi-boneless halves from each bird. (Don't worry if skin holding thigh and drumstick together separates.) Combine with all other ingredients in bowl or heavy plastic bag and stir or shake to coat. If time allows, marinate for an hour or so.
• Grill quail, turning as needed, until browned and cooked through, about 15 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.

GRILLED QUAIL WITH SAUL'S RED MOLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Heat a dry cast-iron skillet to just before the smoking point (see Know-how, page 147).
• Remove and discard the seeds from the ancho, pasilla, guajillo, and jalapeño peppers and roast the chiles in the skillet over medium-high heat, turning regularly to avoid burning, about 3 minutes, until the chiles release a toasted scent. Transfer the chiles to a bowl of warm water to soak for 10 to 15 minutes, until soft, then drain.
• While the chiles are soaking, place the tomatoes, onion, apple, plantain, and garlic in the skillet and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Roast in the oven until slightly brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool slightly.
• Place the tomatoes, onion, and garlic in a blender and reserve the apple and plantain and set aside. Add the soaked chiles and 1 cup of the broth and puree until smooth. Remove from the blender and place in a large bowl.
• Place the pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, peanuts, cinnamon stick, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and bread in a skillet and dry roast over medium-high heat, stirring or shaking the pan constantly, until they release an aroma, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, cool slightly, and transfer to the same blender. Add the remaining 1 cup broth, the roasted apple and plantain, and the chocolate and puree until smooth. Place in the bowl with the chile mixture, season with salt and pepper to taste, and stir to combine. The consistency should be about the same as a pureed soup or loose sauce; if the mole is too thick, add more broth until the desired consistency is reached.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until hot. Add the pureed chile mixture, reduce the heat to low, and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes, until the color darkens and the flavors meld.
• Prepare a hot fire in a charcoal or gas grill and let the coals burn to gray ash with a slight red glow; if using a gas grill, heat the grill on medium.
• Rinse the quail, pat dry, and place in a shallow dish. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle evenly with the thyme and salt and pepper to taste. Turn several times to coat evenly with the oil and herbs.
• Grill the quail for 10 to 12 minutes, turning several times to prevent charring. The skin will be golden and crispy and the interior slightly pink.
• Transfer the quail to a platter, cover loosely, and let rest for about 5 minutes before serving. Reheat half the mole, if necessary; spoon the sauce over and around the quail; and sprinkle with cilantro or scallions. Serve warm with lime wedges to squeeze over the quail.

EASY GRILLED QUAIL

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Combine parsley, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Add olive oil and stir until evenly combined. Brush seasoned oil over both sides of the quail.
• Grill for 8 minutes. Carefully flip with tongs and grill for 8 minutes more.

GRILLED SPICY QUAIL

Steps:

• To make the marinade, whisk the canola oil, Parmesan cheese, vinegar, chile-Italian seasoning, and 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl.
• Rinse the quail and pat dry. Arrange the quail in a baking dish that is large enough to hold them in one layer, and add the marinade, turning the quail to coat them well. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator, turning the quail once or twice, for at least 1 day and up to 2 days.
• Remove the quail from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature (about 30 minutes). Prepare a grill to medium-high heat, or heat a grill pan over medium-high heat.
• Remove the quail from the marinade (discard the marinade), and pat dry with paper towels. Season the quail with salt and pepper, and grill for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until just cooked through. The meat should still be slightly pink in the center. Serve with lime wedges.
• Combine the oregano, parsley, basil, thyme, salt, garlic salt, celery salt, onion powder, sugar, chile powder, and pepper in a glass jar. Screw the lid on tightly, and shake until the mixture is well blended. Store at room temperature for up to 6 months.

GRILLED MARINATED QUAIL

Steps:

• Wash and dry quail.
• Combine remaining ingredients and place in noncorrosive container large enough to hold quail. Place quail in marinade, turning to coat both sides. Cover. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight, turning occasionally.
• To cook, heat broiler(s). Cover broiler pan with 2 layers of aluminum foil and arrange quail on foil. If you have only one broiler, you will have to cook the quail in 2 batches. Broil 2 inches from source of heat for 5 minutes on each side. Remove metal frame holding quail open and serve with polenta (see recipe).