Pigeon Pie Recipes

MEDIEVAL PIGEON PIE

Steps:

• Cut the pigeon breasts into small pieces. Finely dice the onion, celery, leek and carrot.
• Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a frying pan over a moderate heat and fry the pigeon, chicken livers and pancetta in olive oil until lightly browned. Put into a pie dish.
• Add a further tablespoon of the oil to the frying pan and fry the onion, celery, leek and carrot until golden, and then add this to the pie dish.
• Fry the button mushrooms and shallots in the remaining oil and add to the pie dish.
• Spoon tomato paste into the pan and cook for 1 minute. Deglaze the pan with the stock. Add the peppercorns, rosemary, sage and thyme to the stock, and bring to the boil.
• Set the oven to 375°F Pour the stock over the meat in the pie dish.
• Roll the pastry out to cover the pie and bake for 45 minutes. Serve immediately.

PIGEON PIES WITH BRAMBLE GRAVY

Steps:

• Bring a pan of water to the boil, cook the cabbage leaves for 1 min, then drain and place in cold water. Once cool, drain and pat dry with kitchen paper.
• Heat the oil and butter in a large frying pan. Sear the pigeon for about 30 secs on each side until browned, then transfer to a plate and set aside the pan as is. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7.
• When the pigeon has rested, make 4 parcels by sandwiching 2 breasts together, wrapping them tightly in the cabbage leaves, then criss-crossing 2 slices of pancetta over the parcel to secure. Set aside.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry until it's the thickness of a £1 coin. Cut out 4 x 12cm circles and place on a greased baking tray. Sit a cabbage parcel in the middle of each circle. Roll the pastry trimmings out again and cut out 4 more circles about 16cm in diameter. Brush the edges of the pastry on the tray with the beaten egg, then drape over the larger circles and pat them round to make a large 'ravioli', trying to expel any air. With a fork, push the sides together. Brush the pies generously with egg, poke a small airhole in the top of each, then sprinkle with salt flakes, if you like. Bake the pies for 20 mins until the pastry is dark golden. Remove and leave to rest for 10 mins.
• Meanwhile, make your gravy. Put the pan with the pigeon cooking juices back on the heat and sizzle the shallot until golden. Stir in the flour and cook for a few mins until sandy. Add the blackberries and cassis (if using), Port and wine, then bubble down. Add the stock and simmer for a few mins until you have a gravy. Set aside and reheat when the pies are ready. To serve, carefully carve each pie in half so you see the cross section of breast, and serve with a little of the sauce poured around.

PIGEON PIE

Steps:

• Truss and saute the pigeons in bacon fat until well-browned.
• Place in a large pan, add water, peppercorns, onion, carrot, parsley and celery.
• Simmer until tender, about 2 1/2 hours.
• Remove pigeons, strain liquid and thicken with blended flour and melted butter.
• Reheat pigeons in sauce, place in heated casserole dish and cover with baked pastry top or mashed potatoes (if you use mashed potatoes, broil briefly until golden).

STEAK AND PIGEON PIE

Steps:

• Remove the rind from the bacon and cut the bacon into thin strips. Brown in a heavy casserole, remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• Add the pigeon, brown lightly and drain on paper towels. Add the beef strips, brown and remove to drain.
• Carefully brown the vegetables without burning and remove. Stir in the flour, cook for half a minute (without burning), and then add the stock, wine and tomato puree. Bring to boil, scraping up the coagulated cooking juices in the bottom of the casserole.
• Return the meat and vegetables to the casserole, along with the garlic, thyme and parsley. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cover and cook until tender, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. (This dish may be cooked on top of the stove or in a preheated 300-degree oven.) Allow to cool and skim off any fat that may have risen to the surface.
• Saute the mushrooms in the butter and set aside. Add to the pie filling. Taste and adjust the seasonings.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Roll out the pie crust so that it is large enough to cover a 7-cup pie dish - 9 inches across. Turn the filling into the pie dish and cover with the pastry. Brush with the beaten egg and make a few small slashes in the pie lid to allow steam to escape. Bake for approximately 20 to 30 minutes, or until the meat is bubbling and hot and the pastry is cooked.