Fragrant Crispy Quail Food

COUNTRY FRIED QUAIL

Steps:

• Spread the quail open and pat dry with paper towels.
• Combine the 1/4 c flour, 1 t salt and 1/2 t pepper.
• Dredge the quail in the seasoned flour.
• Pour oil to 1/4" depth in the skillet and heat.
• Add the floured quail to the oil when it's hot and brown on both sides.
• Remove the quail from the skillet.
• Combine the 3 T flour, 1 c water (or milk and water), and 1/2 t salt.
• Add to the drippings in the skillet and stir to combine.
• Add the quail back in the skillet.
• Add enough water to come halfway up the quail.
• Cover and reduce the heat to low.
• Simmer for 30 minutes or until the quail is done and the gravy has thickened.

CRISP QUAIL WITH PINEAPPLE AND GREEN ONION

Steps:

• Place the quail quarters on a plate and toss with the marinade. Let marinate 1 hour, up to 6 hours, refrigerated.
• Prepare the sauce: In a medium skillet, over high heat, combine the wine and ginger and reduce by half. Pour in the stock with the cinnamon stick and cook until the sauce thickens. Add the chili oil and season lightly with salt and pepper. Whisk in the butter and correct seasoning to taste. Keep warm.
• In a deep, heavy saucepan or a deep-fryer, heat about 3 inches of peanut oil to 350 degrees F.
• Pour the rice flour into a small bowl and make a thick batter using 1/2 to 3/4 cup water. Transfer the quail from the marinade to a clean plate. Pour enough of the batter over the quail to coat well, reserving a little batter. Deep fry until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Do not overcook. Drain on a clean towel and toss in the reserved sauce. Quail is best when still pink on the inside.
• Coat the green onions with the remaining batter and fry until golden, 1 or 2 minutes. Drain on clean toweling.
• To serve, arrange the pineapple slices in a circle around the outer edges of a large ovenproof plate. Warm in the oven. Pile the quail in the center and poke the green onions into the quail at various intervals. Serve immediately.
• Chili Oil: 1 cup peanut, light sesame or olive oil 1/4 cup dried red chile flakes
• In a saucepan, heat the oil. Stir in the chile pepper flakes and remove from the heat.
• Cool. Store in a covered jar and use as needed.

FRAGRANT CRISPY QUAIL

Steps:

• Rinse the quail and pat dry with paper towels. Check for pin feathers and pluck any you find.
• To make the marinade, select a large, shallow bowl or deep plate that fits in your steamer tray. Add the salt, ginger juice, and wine and stir to dissolve the salt. Add the quail and use your fingers to coat each bird well with the marinade. Then, spoon the marinade into their cavities and rub it in with your fingers. Fold back each wing so that the wing tip is behind the neck, as if the quail is relaxing. Arrange the quail so that there is minimal overlap, to ensure even cooking. Put the bowl in the steamer tray and set aside to marinate for 15 minutes.
• Fill the steamer pan halfway with water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the steamer tray, cover, and steam the quail for 9 to 11 minutes, or until there is no visible sign of pink rawness at the breast end. (Because the final frying is brief, the quail should be cooked through at this point. However, be careful not to steam away their juiciness.) While the quail steam, place a wire rack on a baking sheet.
• When the quail are ready, transfer them to the rack, angling them as if they are reclining or standing, so the liquid in the cavities drains out. When cool enough to handle, blot dry with paper towels, removing any bits of residue from the skin.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the honey and soy sauce. Using your fingers, coat each quail evenly with the mixture. Place the quail on a plate. Wash and dry the rack and return it to the baking sheet.
• Put 1/4 cup of the cornstarch in a zip-top plastic bag. Standing near the sink, put a quail into the bag and shake a few times to dust lightly. Remove the quail and pat it between your hands over the sink to remove excess cornstarch. Put the quail, breast side up, on the rack. Repeat with the remaining quail, adding the remaining 1/4 cup cornstarch to the bag as needed. Set the quail aside for about 3 hours. As the quail sit, they will dry and absorb the cornstarch. They are ready to fry when most of the powdery white coating has turned light brown. Just before frying, give each quail a quick pat to remove any excess cornstarch.
• Pour oil to a depth of 1 1/2 inches into a wok or 5-quart Dutch oven and heat over medium-high heat to 350°F on a deep-frying thermometer. (If you don't have a thermometer, stand a dry bamboo chopstick in the oil; if small bubbles immediately gather on the surface around the chopstick, the oil is ready.)
• Because the quail brown quickly, you need to use a two-hands, two-utensils frying technique. With a skimmer in one hand and a large spoon in the other, lower a quail into the hot oil. Then immediately spoon the hot oil over the quail so that it fries to a nice, even brown. This only takes 30 to 45 seconds. To make sure the quail is browning evenly, occasionally use both utensils to lift and dip or rotate it in the oil. Because the color deepens slightly once the quail is out of the pan, pull it from the oil when it is just shy of a rich brown. Balance it between the skimmer and spoon as you lift it out, letting any excess oil drip back into the pan, and then return the quail to the rack. Repeat with the remaining quail. Once all the quail are fried, use a paper towel to blot away any clinging oil.
• To serve, cut each quail in half along the breastbone and place on a large platter. Take to the table and start nibbling.
• Notes
• These quail may be reheated in a preheated 350°F oven or toaster oven. Halve them first and put them cut side down to reheat. They are ready when you can hear them gently sizzling, usually about 10 minutes.
• You may also serve these quail with Salt, Pepper, and Lime Dipping Sauce (page 311); omit the chiles if desired.

CRISP QUAIL WITH PINEAPPLE AND GREEN ONION

Steps:

• Mix the marinade ingredients together. Place the quail quarters on a plate and toss with the marinade. Let marinate 1 hour, up to 6 hours, refrigerated.
• Prepare the sauce: In a medium skillet, over high heat, combine the wine and ginger and reduce by half. Pour in the stock with the cinnamon stick and cook until the sauce thickens. Add the chili oil and season lightly with salt and pepper. Whisk in the butter and correct seasoning to taste. Keep warm.
• In a deep, heavy saucepan or a deep-fryer, heat about 3 inches of peanut oil to 350 degrees F.
• Pour the rice flour into a small bowl and make a thick batter using 1/2 to 3/4 cup water. Transfer the quail from the marinade to a clean plate. Pour enough of the batter over the quail to coat well, reserving a little batter. Deep fry until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Do not overcook. Drain on a clean towel and toss in the reserved sauce. Quail is best when still pink on the inside.
• Coat the green onions with the remaining batter and fry until golden, 1 or 2 minutes. Drain on clean toweling.
• To serve, arrange the pineapple slices in a circle around the outer edges of a large ovenproof plate. Warm in the oven. Pile the quail in the center and poke the green onions into the quail at various intervals. Serve immediately.
• In a saucepan, heat the oil. Stir in the chile pepper flakes and remove from the heat.
• Cool. Store in a covered jar and use as needed.

FRAGRANT CRISPY CHICKEN LEGS

Steps:

• Marinate the drumsticks for 4- 5 hours, refrigerated.
• Improvise a steamer (or use one of the Chinese steaming devices).
• Steam the drumsticks for one hour, covered with aluminum foil that has several small holes pierced in it.
• (Check water level in steamer from time to time to make sure there's still some water left).
• Air dry the drumsticks for a couple hours.
• When ready to deep fry, dredge the steamed drumsticks with cornstarch.
• Heat oil to 350- 375º and cook the drumsticks a few at a time until golden brown.

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.