Chinese Style Quail With Seasoned Salt Food

FRIED QUAIL WITH SPICY SALT

Steps:

• To make the spicy salt and pepper, combine the ingredients and dry fry over a low heat for 2-3 minutes or until aromatic.
• Split each quail in half down the middle and clean well.
• Marinate with the teaspoon of spicy salt and pepper, sugar, soy and rice wine for 2-3 hours, turning frequently.
• Coat each quail piece in flour, dustin off the excess.
• Fill a wok to 1/4 full with oil and heat the oil to 190c.
• Fry the quail for 2-3 minutes each side then remove from the wok and drain on kitchen paper.
• Serve with the lemon wedges on the side.

WHOLE QUAIL WITH STICKY RICE WITH CHINESE SAUSAGE

Steps:

• To make the quail with rice:
• Rinse the rice 2 times in a bowl of cold water and drain. In a large ovenproof pot, combine the rice, sausages, chestnuts, sugar, soy sauce, dried scallops, gingko nuts, ham, dates, wine, and dried shrimp. Add a scant 3 cups of water, put in a steam oven, and cook until cooked through and soft, 30 to 45 minutes. Fold in the edamame. Taste and adjust the sugar, soy sauce, and salt. Let cool and then fold in the scallions. Stuff about 1/2 cup of the rice mixture into each quail.
• To make the scallion oil:
• Put the scallions in a bowl, cover with the oil, and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Puree in a blender and strain through a very fine-mesh sieve, gently pressing to extract the pulp. Add the ginger, to taste.
• To make the garlic chives:
• In a small skillet heat the oil over medium heat. Saute the garlic chives, seasoning with salt, until slightly caramelized. You can add a bit of water to help cook the chives through before burning, if needed.
• To serve:
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Heat a large skillet with a little oil. Sear the birds breast side down and then put in the oven until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Then turn the birds and repeat the process on the other side, cooking until the birds are cooked and the rice is heated through.
• Serve the whole quail on a bed of chive buds with a few dots of scallion oil to garnish the plate.

CHINESE-STYLE QUAIL WITH SEASONED SALT

Steps:

• Check quail for any stray bone fragments or feathers. If there are V-shaped grilling pins protruding (these shape the partly boned birds), leave them in place. Rinse, and pat dry with paper towels.
• In small skillet or saute pan, combine salt, peppercorns, star anise and cinnamon. Place over high heat, and stir or shake until peppercorns begin to smoke. Set aside, and allow to cool.
• Place soy sauce in mixing bowl, add quail, and turn until they are lightly coated. Sprinkle the salt mixture (avoid the whole spices) sparingly inside the quail, and somewhat liberally outside. Put quail on a rack to dry at room temperature for 1 hour.
• While quail are drying, remove whole spices (peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon) from the salt, and grind them in spice grinder to a coarse powder. Add all of the remaining salt to the powder, and continue to process until finely ground. Transfer mixture to small serving bowl. Add sugar, and mix well. Set aside.
• In large, wide saucepan over medium-high heat, add peanut oil to a depth of at least 2 inches, and heat to about 375 degrees. Add quail, in batches if necessary, and fry until lightly golden, about 3 minutes. Remove, and drain on paper towels.
• To serve, remove grilling pins. Use large chef's knife or cleaver to cut each bird in half lengthwise and then diagonally under each thigh. The meat should be slightly pink. Arrange on large platter, and garnish with coriander sprigs. Pass the ground seasoned salt separately for dipping.

FIVE SPICE GRILLED QUAIL

Steps:

• To make the marinade: In a small bowl, mix together all the marinated ingredients.
• Put the quail in a large heavy-duty plastic zip-top bag.
• Pour in the marinade (if one bag isn't big enough, then use two bags and divide the marinade).
• Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly.
• Shake gently to distribute the marinade.
• Refrigerate 1-8 hours and turn occasionally.
• Take the quail out of the bag and throw away marinade.
• Pat quail dry with paper towels.
• Lightly brush the quail with vegetable oil.
• In a small bowl, add all the seasoning blend ingredients; stir to combine.
• Sprinkle seasoning blend over quail.
• Grill with breast side down over INDIRECT medium heat for 15-20 minutes or until the juices are slightly pink (turn once halfway through grill time).

CHINESE ROASTED QUAIL

Steps:

• Whisk together water, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, xa xiu powder, and five-spice powder in a large glass or ceramic bowl. Add halved quails and toss to evenly coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Remove quail from the marinade, shake off excess, and place cut-sides up on a broiler pan. Discard the remaining marinade.
• Broil in the preheated oven until juices run clear, about 20 minutes. Turn on the broiler and flip quail so cut-sides are facing down. Broil until skin is browned and slightly crispy, about 5 minutes, keeping a constant eye on the oven to prevent burning. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).