Indian Spiced Squab Recipes

GRILLED SPICED SQUAB

Steps:

• Remove heads and feet from squab. Insert a sharp knife through neck cavity and carefully split each bird down the back, keeping breast intact. Remove backbone, then carefully remove breastbone, cartilage and ribs. The bird should look like a butterfly, with only wing and leg bones attached.
• Place garlic cloves and ginger in the bowl of a food processor, and blend to a paste. Add aniseed, saffron, paprika, cayenne and lemon juice, and blend about 30 seconds to combine. Transfer blended ingredients to a mixing bowl, add chopped coriander and green onions and whisk in olive oil. Add freshly ground black pepper to taste.
• Place squab in a shallow ceramic or enameled dish, add spice marinade and turn to coat well. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bring to room temperature before grilling.
• Preheat broiler or outdoor grill to highest temperature. Sprinkle squab with salt. Grill squab, skin-side-up, for 4 minutes, and then turn to grill 3 minutes, skin-side-down. Baste frequently with marinade while cooking. Test for doneness: squab are best served rare. Suggested times are for a very hot fire. A home broiler will take longer than mesquite or charcoal briquettes.
• Serve with couscous, rice or a combination of bulgur wheat and rice, sprinkled with minced green onions and accompanied by a lemon wedge.

INDIAN-SPICED SQUAB

Steps:

• Combine the spices and the yogurt in a small bowl. Stuff the cavity of each squab with 1 piece of onion, 2 pieces of lime and 4 sprigs of cilantro. Dry the outside of the squab and rub the skin all over with the yogurt mixture. Marinate at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Place the squab in a roasting pan and tie the legs together to close the cavities. Roast until the juices run slightly pink when pricked with a fork in the thickest part of the leg, about 25 to 30 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes. Remove the string and place 1 squab on each of 4 plates. Serve with Basmati rice.