Leftover Guinea Fowl Food

ROAST GUINEA FOWL WITH CHESTNUT, SAGE & LEMON STUFFING

Steps:

• First make the stuffing. Soften the onion in the butter very gently, then stir in the sage and cook for 2 mins more. Scrape into a bowl with the chopped walnuts, breadcrumbs, lemon zest, mace, chestnuts and egg and mix together well. Season generously.
• For the guinea fowl, wash and wipe out the inside cavity. Mix the butter with some seasoning, then push and spread some under the skin over the breasts, and rub the rest over the legs. Lay the bacon across the breasts, smoothing over, and season with some more pepper. Push the stuffing into the cavity (any extra can be rolled into balls and baked in the oven for the last 20 mins cooking time). You can cover and chill the guinea fowl now for up to 24 hours.
• To roast, bring the bird out of the fridge 30 mins before. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Sit the bird in a snug roasting tin with the sliced onion underneath. Roast for 15 mins, then lower the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and roast for a further 35-45 mins for a 1kg bird (or longer if bigger - use the timings for a roast chicken). Check the bird is done by piercing the inside of the thigh with a knife and making sure the juices are clear, not bloody. Lift the guinea fowl off the onions, onto a platter. Loosely cover with foil, top with a towel (to keep it warm), and rest while you make the gravy.
• Pour off the juices from the roasting tray into a jug or bowl, and allow to settle. Spoon a tbsp of the fat on top back into the roasting tray, pop on the hob over a low heat (make sure your roasting tray is suitable or transfer contents to a pan), and stir in the flour until it isn't dusty anymore. Gradually stir in the stock, plus any meat juices after you've discarded the rest of the fat, and bubble gently until thickened. Season with salt, pepper, and pinches of sugar if it needs it, then strain into a gravy jug and discard the onions. Serve with the guinea fowl, spooning out the stuffing as you carve, plus cranberry sauce and plenty of vegetables.

GUINEA-FOWL (OR CHICKEN) WITH FENNEL, POTATOES AND BLOOD ORANGES

Steps:

• Cut the guinea-fowl legs away from the breast meat. This is because they take different times to cook, and you want to get it perfect.
• MARINADE----------------------.
• Bash up the fennel seeds, half the rosemary, half the thyme and the garlic in a pestle and mortar.
• Mix in the gin and the zest and juice of the oranges with 5 tablespoons of olive oil.
• Season with black pepper only.
• Get yourself a big sandwich bag (or something similar, Jamie suggests a clean (!) bin liner). Make sure there are no holes in it.
• Push the guinea-fowl legs and breasts down into one corner of the bag, then add the marinade.
• Squeeze out all the air you can and tie a knot in the bag. Put it in a bowl or on a large plate and keep it in the fridge for a day, turning the bag over when you remember.
• GET READY TO ROAST---------------.
• Preheat your oven to 250°C / 450°F / gas 8.
• Parboil the potatoes in boiling salted water for about 5 minutes, then add the fennel, continue to boil for five minutes more and drain.
• Remove the guinea fowl from the fridge, drain away the marinade, and place the meat on a board.
• Use a piece of kitchen towel to blot off any excess moisture from the meat.
• ROAST----------------------.
• Put the legs into a big roasting tray and roast in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
• Take the tray out of the oven - you should have a nice bit of fat in the bottom. Remove the legs to a plate.
• Put the potatoes, fennel and the rest of the thyme and rosemary into the tray and give it a really good shake about.
• Put the legs back in the tray, along with the breast meat, which should be skin side up.
• Place in the oven for about 30 minutes, until both the skin of the breast meat and the potatoes are nice and golden.
• Remove from the oven, sprinkle with olives and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
• SERVE---------------------.
• To serve, cut the guinea-fowl into chunks.
• Divide a bit of everything between you plates and sprinkle with the herby fennel tops.
• TRY THIS------------------.
• Make a blood orange dressing with the juice of an orange and the same amount of olive oil.
• Season and drizzle it over everything.

ROAST GUINEA FOWL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to very hot.
• Fold the wings behing the bird, and tie the legs loosely together.
• Brush with the butter and cover the breasts with the slices of bacon.
• Place on a rack set over a baking dish and cook in the center of the oven for 20 minutes per pound.
• Transfer the birds to a warmed serving dish and cover.
• Add the wine to the pan juices with the lemon juice and boil rapidly for a moment or two.
• Adjust the seasoning and serve with the birds.
• Discard the bacon.