Stephens Roast Squab With Seville Orange Confit Recipes

ROAST SQUABS WITH PORCINI AND COUNTRY BREAD SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Bring 2 cups water, garlic, and 1 teaspoon sea salt to a boil, then drain in a colander. Blanch garlic in same manner 2 more times.
• Cut bread into 1/4-inch-thick sticks and toast on a baking sheet in middle of oven until pale golden, about 6 minutes. Leave oven on.
• Peel stems of porcini with a sharp small knife just until white flesh is exposed, then quarter mushrooms lengthwise.
• Pat squabs dry and season generously inside and out with salt and pepper. Put a sprig of thyme in cavity of each squab and divide garlic confit among cavities. Tie legs of squabs together with kitchen string and fold wings back.
• Heat 2 tablespoons duck fat in a well-seasoned 10-inch cast-iron skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown squabs in 2 batches, turning, about 5 minutes, transferring to a plate and reserving skillet.
• Add 1 1/2 more tablespoons duck fat to skillet and sauté porcini in 2 batches over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 3 minutes (add another 1 1/2 tablespoons duck fat to skillet for second batch). Stir in blanched garlic, toasted bread, and salt and pepper to taste and remove from heat.
• Put a 13- by 9-inch metal baking pan on bottom rack of oven (to catch drips) and arrange squabs, breast sides up, in a small circle (without touching) on middle rack of oven directly above baking pan. Roast squabs, carefully basting once with remaining tablespoon duck fat, 15 minutes. Replace baking pan with skillet of bread salad, positioning it directly under birds. Roast squabs and bread salad until an instant-read thermometer inserted in fleshy part of a thigh (avoid bone) registers 155°F for medium meat and mushrooms in bread salad are tender, about 5 minutes. (If mushrooms are not tender, roast bread salad 5 to 8 minutes more.) Transfer squabs to a cutting board and let stand 5 minutes, then halve lengthwise with poultry shears or a sharp knife.
• Toss bread salad with parsley and lemon juice and serve with squabs.

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.

THOMAS KELLER'S TOMATO CONFIT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. With a sharp paring knife, cut out and discard stem end of each tomato; score opposite end. Place tomatoes in a large bowl.
• Pour boiling water over tomatoes; let sit until skin is easily peeled, about 15 seconds. Drain tomatoes, and cover with ice.
• Peel tomatoes when cool enough to handle. Halve lengthwise and place, cut-side up, on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil; season with salt, pepper, and thyme.
• Roast until tomatoes are dried halfway through, about 5 to 6 hours. Let stand until cool. Transfer tomatoes to a storage container; pour oil from baking sheet over the top. Refrigerate for up to 1 week.

PAN-ROASTED FILET MIGNONS WITH POTATO-WALNUT CONFIT, PORT WINE REDUCTION, STILTON CHEESE, AND SHALLOT RINGS

Steps:

• Make the Potato-Walnut Confit: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
• Place potatoes, extra-virgin olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl; toss to combine. Spread in an even layer on prepared baking sheet and transfer to oven. Roast until potatoes are golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer to a large bowl.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add bacon and cook, stirring, until it just begins to turn golden, about 2 minutes. Add walnuts and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon mixture to bowl with potatoes; cover tightly with plastic wrap to keep warm. Reserve skillet for port wine reduction.
• Make the Port Wine Reduction: Add shallots and garlic to reserved skillet and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add port to deglaze and stir, scraping up browned bits in skillets; cook until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add beef stock and cook, stirring, until reduced by half, 8 to 9 minutes. Add butter to skillet, 1 piece at a time, whisking until fully melted and combined after each addition. Remove skillet from heat as necessary to prevent sauce from breaking; sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove sauce from heat and cover to keep warm.
• Make the Filet Mignons: Season filets on both sides with salt and pepper. In a large ovenproof skillet, melt butter with olive oil over high heat. Add filets and cook, turning once, 3 minutes per side. Place 2 tablespoons cheese on top of each filet and transfer skillet to oven. For medium-rare, roast until an instant-read thermometer reaches 140 degrees when inserted into filets, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven.
• To serve, divide the potato mixture evenly between four plates; top with filets. Spoon sauce over filets and garnish with remaining 1/2 cup cheese, fried shallot rings, and parsley. Serve immediately.