Queens Choice Quail With Fig And Date Sauce Recipes

PEAS IN THREE-CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat butter in a saucepan and saute garlic and shallots in a saucepan until translucent. Reduce heat to low and add cream and nutmeg. Allow to reduce by about 1/3. Remove from heat and stir in peas, Parmesan and Cheddar, and cook until cheese is incorporated. Season with pepper and sprinkle with Romano cheese. Cheese will be salty so add salt only if needed after all cheeses are added.

ROASTED QUAIL DATE AND POMEGRANATE MARINADE

Steps:

• Remove the backbones from the quail or ask your butcher to do this for you. Rinse and dry them on paper towels. Place in a shallow pan. Mix remaining ingredients, except pomegranate seeds and parsley, in a large bowl. Pour mixture over the quail and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Drain the quail and keep the marinade. Place the quail in a roasting pan with some olive oil and roast them for 15 minutes or until done. Meanwhile, strain the marinade into a pot and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook until syrupy. You may wish to add 1 teaspoon of butter or olive oil. Mix well. Taste the marinade and season, to taste.
• Pour the sauce onto 4 plates and place the roasted quail on top. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and parsley.

GRANDMA'S QUAIL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Heat the shortening in a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat.
• Season the quail with the garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste. Place the flour in a shallow dish; roll the quail in the flour.
• Working in batches, brown the quail on all sides in the preheated shortening. Place the browned quail in a large roasting pan or casserole dish; pour the water over the quail and cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, or to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F (75 degrees C), taken in the thickest part of the thigh. Spoon the sour cream over the quails, allow the sour cream to melt before serving.

QUAILS WITH FIGS & WALNUT SAUCE

Steps:

• To make a marinade, mix the herbs, lemon zest, brandy, seasoning and 6 tbsp olive oil in a large dish. Season the birds and spoon some marinade into the cavities. Roll them in the rest of the marinade, then cover and chill overnight.
• For the walnut sauce, whizz the garlic and walnuts together with a little salt in a small food processor until finely chopped. Add the oil in a thin stream, as though you're making a mayonnaise. Stir in 2 tbsp warm water. Season with pepper, add the parsley and set aside.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. To cook the quail, wipe any herbs from the breast area. Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large frying pan and, when really hot, quickly brown the birds all over, in batches, colouring but not cooking the meat.
• Put a piece of butter inside each bird and put them into a roasting tin. Roast in the oven for 15-20 mins, depending on whether you like the meat to be a little pink, adding a quarter of the vermouth after 10 mins. Put the figs in a small gratin dish in a single layer. Drizzle with the honey and balsamic, then season. Roast for 20 mins, alongside the quail, basting during cooking. The figs should be dark and tender but holding their shape. Cover to keep warm and set aside.
• Put the quail on a warm platter and cover. Put the roasting tin on the hob over a high heat. Add the rest of the vermouth, bring to the boil and bubble until there's 150ml left. Add the stock and boil until you have a slightly syrupy sauce, enough for 2 tbsp per serving of quail. Put two birds on each plate and spoon over the reduced sauce. Serve with three fig halves each and the walnut sauce.