Roast Squab With Green Lentils Recipes

PAN-ROASTED SQUAB WITH SPRING GARLIC COMPOTE

Steps:

• Remove the breasts, thighs, and drumsticks from the squab and reserve. Using a large chef's knife, chop the bodies and wings into 3 or 4 pieces. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large saucepan over high heat. Add the squab bones and parts and sauté until well browned. Add the carrots, onion, and garlic cloves. Cook until softened and lightly colored, 6 to 8 minutes in all, then add 2 cups of the wine. Continue to cook until reduced by three-quarters, 6 to 8 minutes, then add the chicken stock. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 1 hour. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve over a bowl, pressing on the solids to extract all the liquid. You should end up with about 2 cups liquid. Discard the solids. Put the liquid in a clean saucepan and reduce until syrupy, or 1/4 cup total; the timing will vary depending on your stove and pan, but will be about 15 minutes.
• To make the compote, cut the spring garlic bulbs from the stems, then slice crosswise 1/8 inch thick. Film a sauté pan with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and heat over high heat. Fry the garlic until crisp and lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour off the oil. Add the remaining 1 cup wine to the pan and cook over medium heat until reduced to about 2 tablespoons, about 10 minutes. Add the honey and cook until the mixture is thickened and coats the back of a spoon, 4 to 5 minutes. Reserve at room temperature.
• In a large sauté pan over high heat, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil on high heat and fry the squab breasts, thighs, and drumsticks skin-side down first, putting a light weight on the breasts or pressing with a spatula, for about 3 minutes. Turn the pieces and cook for 2 minutes longer, then turn once more to crisp the skin and finish cooking. Breasts should be served medium-rare, while thighs and drumsticks are cooked through. Allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
• When ready to serve, reheat the sauce and season with salt and pepper. Divide the compote among 4 plates and place the squab pieces on top. Spoon the sauce around the squab and serve.

ROAST SQUAB WITH GREEN LENTILS

Steps:

• Rinse the squabs under cold water, pat dry and flatten on a baking sheet. Season each side lightly with salt and pepper and place in the refrigerator. Using a sharp heavy knife or a cleaver, hack the reserved squab bones, neck, liver, gizzard and heart into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Place a heavy-bottom pot over medium-high heat. Warm 2 tablespoons of the oil; when it is sizzling, add the bones and innards, stirring to brown darkly, about 10 minutes. Carefully pour off the oil and discard. Return the pot to high heat and use a wooden spoon to dislodge the bits of browned skin before adding the garlic, shallots, parsley, thyme, bay leaf and 4 cups of chicken stock.
• Allow the broth to come to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 4 hours, skimming frequently. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer, discarding the bones and aromatics. Place the broth in a saucepan over medium heat and simmer until the liquid has reduced to equal 1 cup. Season this with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.
• Remove the squabs from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature. Rinse the lentils under cold water and discard any stones. Place lentils in a heavy-bottom casserole along with the clove-studded onion halves, carrots and bacon. Add the remaining chicken broth, place over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, partly cover the pot and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring frequently.
• When the lentils are soft and all the cooking liquid has been absorbed, remove the onion, bacon and carrots. Add the butter and 1/2 cup of the squab broth, season with salt and pepper, cover and keep warm.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Place the squabs in a heavy-bottom, ovenproof skillet or baking pan, or 2 if necessary, large enough to accommodate the squabs. Place the pan over high heat on the stove. Add the remaining olive oil and when the oil is hot, place the squabs skin side down in the skillet. Press them down with a spatula to flatten them. Brown for 1 minute. Transfer the pan to the oven and continue cooking, skin side down, for 10 minutes for rare, and several minutes longer for medium to well done.
• Warm the squab broth and divide the lentils among 4 plates, creating a circle of lentils in the center of each. Place the squab on the lentils, drizzle each with the hot broth, garnish each with a sprig of thyme and serve immediately.

ROAST SQUAB WITH APPLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Cut apples into quarters. Peel and core.
• Season the cavities of the squabs with salt and pepper. Inside each, put a sprig of thyme, a bay leaf and a clove of garlic.
• Put squabs in a large, heavy roasting pan, breasts up. Scatter the onions, potatoes and apples around them. Brush the squabs, potatoes and onions with the olive oil. Cook 20 minutes, basting often with pan juices.
• Remove the fat and apples, and set the apples aside, keeping them warm. Add the wine and chicken broth. Cook 10 minutes longer, basting often and scraping the bottom of the pan. Do not overcook: the squabs should be cooked pink in the thigh.
• Lift the squabs with a fork and let the herbs and juices flow into the pan. Put squabs on a serving platter; untruss and keep warm.
• Put the roasting pan on top of the stove. Bring the gravy to a simmer, add the butter, and blend, stirring and scraping. If there is not enough gravy, add some chicken broth or water. Carve the squabs if desired and serve with onions, potatoes, apples and pan gravy.

WARM LENTIL SALAD WITH BALSAMIC ROAST SQUASH

Steps:

• Combine the lentils, ginger, turmeric, onion, water, and salt to taste in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook at a moderate bubble until the lentils have softened and produced a flavorful broth, about 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from the heat. Remove the onion and discard. Place a strainer over a bowl and drain the lentils.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. If using cut up squash, place in a bowl or directly on the baking sheet and toss with salt to taste, the balsamic vinegar and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Spread on the baking sheet in an even layer and make sure to tip all of the liquid remaining in the bowl over the squash. Roast for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes so that the squash browns evenly. The squash should be tender all the way through. Remove from the heat. If using acorn squash, spoon a tablespoon of the balsamic vinegar into both cavities, season with salt, brush with olive oil, and place cut side up on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake 40 to 50 minutes, basting every 10 minutes, until thoroughly tender. Remove from the heat and when cool enough to handle remove the skin and cut the squash into dice.
• In a small bowl or measuring cup whisk together the vinegars, mustard, salt and pepper, olive oil, and walnut oil. Toss with the lentils and return to the saucepan. Add a few tablespoons of the lentil broth, stir in the parsley and heat through.
• Place the squash in the middle of a wide bowl or serving platter, surround with the lentil salad and serve.