Leslie Revsins Braised Quail With Juniper Bayberry And Pomegranates Food

LESLIE REVSIN'S BRAISED QUAIL WITH JUNIPER, BAYBERRY AND POMEGRANATES

Steps:

• In the cavity of the quail put a little salt, a bayberry or quartered bay leaf (reserving the remaining leaves for later), and a quarter of a clove of garlic. Truss the quail.
• In a bowl large enough to hold all 12 quail combine half a teaspoon salt, juniper berries and whole white peppercorns. Crush the whole coriander seeds with a mortar and pestle and add. Add the brandy. Toss the quail in this mixture, cover tightly and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a casserole large enough to hold the quail, brown the carrot, onion, celery and leek in threequarters of a tablespoon of duck fat or oil and butter mixture. Remove the vegetables and set aside. Add the remaining fat and carefully brown the quail a few at a time.
• Return the vegetables to the pan. Add the wine and stock. Bring to a boil and skim off any impurities that may rise to the surface. Add three bayberry or one bay leaf, thyme and rosemary and cover tightly. Cook for 45 minutes. The quail are done when they are very soft. Test with a fork or thin skewer. If they are not cooked long enough they will be stringy.
• Meanwhile, brown four tablespoons of butter without burning and brown the breadcrumbs in the butter. Set aside.
• Remove the birds from pan. Strain the cooking juices into a saucepan and reduce to 1 1/2 cups. Season with freshly ground pepper and salt if needed. Stir in remaining two tablespoons of cold butter. Pour the sauce over the birds and sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
• Garnish the plate with branches of juniper and peeled chokes of pomegranates, lacing them in and among the birds and sprinkle with extra bay leaves.

ROASTED QUAIL WITH JUNIPER BERRIES AND BALSAMIC VINEGAR

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500°F.
• With poultry shears or a sharp knife cut off necks, feet, and first 2 wing joints of each quail and discard. Finely chop garlic. Finely chop juniper berries and sprinkle half inside quail. Season quail inside and out with pepper and salt.
• In a 12-inch ovenproof skillet heat oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Add quail, breast sides down, and brown on all sides, 5 to 7 minutes total. Transfer quail to a plate and wipe skillet clean. In skillet melt butter and add quail, breast sides up. Transfer quail to middle of oven and roast, basting twice, until meat is pink for medium-rare, about 8 minutes. Transfer quail to a platter. Add garlic and remaining juniper berries to skillet and cook over low heat, stirring, 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Remove skillet from heat and stir in vinegar and any quail juices that have accumulated on platter. Spoon sauce over quail.

JUNIPER-AND-BEER-BRAISED SHORT RIBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. In a Dutch oven or large casserole with a tightly fitting lid, over high heat, heat 3/4cup of the oil. Sprinkle the ribs with salt and pepper. Place the flour on a plate. Roll ribs in flour until well coated. Working in 2 batches, cook the ribs, turning occasionally until well browned, 7 minutes per batch. Using tongs, transfer to a plate.
• Drain the oil and return the Dutch oven to medium-high heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil and the onion, carrot and celery. Cook, stirring, until soft and brown, about 7 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, about 1 minute more. Return the ribs to the Dutch oven, add the juniper, thyme, beer and broth. Bring to a boil, cover, place in the oven and bake until tender, about 2 hours.
• Transfer the ribs to a baking sheet, cover with foil and keep warm. Using a sieve over a saucepan, strain the liquid. Place saucepan over high heat, bring to a boil and cook, uncovered, until reduced to 1 cup, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste and stir in the honey.
• Transfer the ribs to a serving platter, pour the reduced beef liquid over them and sprinkle with parsley. Serve with buttered pasta, rice or mashed potatoes.

QUAIL WITH POMEGRANATE JUS

Steps:

• Combine shallots, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, 2 tablespoons pomegranate juice, 2 teaspoons tarragon, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Add quail, tossing gently to coat, then marinate, covered and chilled, at least 2 hours and up to 4 hours.
• Remove quail from marinade, scraping off shallots and reserving marinade, then pat quail dry with paper towels and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides. Cook 4 quail, turning over once, until browned and just cooked through, about 5 minutes total. (Quail will be rare.) Transfer cooked quail to a serving dish and keep warm, loosely covered with foil. Cook remaining 4 quail in remaining 2 tablespoons butter in same manner, transferring to serving dish.
• Add reserved marinade to skillet and cook over moderately high heat, scraping up any brown bits with a wooden spoon, until shallots are just softened, about 4 minutes. Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons pomegranate juice and season with salt, then spoon over quail. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and remaining teaspoon tarragon.
• To juice a pomegranate, cut in half crosswise, then use a manual or electric juicer. Alternatively, remove seeds from pomegranate and pulse seeds in a food processor until juicy, then transfer seeds to a sieve and drain, pressing on and then discarding solids.

BRAISED QUAIL

Steps:

• Clean the quail and pat dry.
• Place a slice of pancetta, a sage and rosemary sprig, and a sliver of garlic.
• Heat the oil in a large, lidded frying pan and brown the quail all over quickly. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add extra rosemary and sage leaves and the white wine.
• Put the lid on, turn the heat down to low and cook very slowly adding more wine and chicken stock as needed. Cook until well done.
• Serve with polenta and a salad of radiccio or rocket if you want to.