Oven Roasted Squab With Piquillo Black Pepper Sauce With Chickpea Polenta Food

BUTTERFLIED SQUAB WITH PIQUILLO PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the canola oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the squab with salt and black pepper and place in the pan, breast-side down. Add the butter and cook the squab until the skin is golden brown. Flip the squab, and continue to cook until medium rare. Transfer to a plate and let rest.
• Drain off any excess oil from the pan, and then heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Cook the carrots, celery and onions until lightly browned. Stir in the garlic and cook 1 minute. Increase the heat to high, and then pour in the port and red wine and cook until reduced by three-quarters, scraping up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Add the stock and cook until reduced by half, then stir in the creme fraiche. Strain the sauce into a bowl, and then heat gently in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once bubbling, remove from the heat and add the parsley, thyme and piquillo peppers. Taste and season with salt and freshly ground pepper.

ROAST CHICKEN MARINATED IN SAFFRON, ORANGE AND GARLIC WITH TOASTED WILD MUSHROOM POLENTA

Steps:

• For the Marinade: Bring ingredients to a boil in a medium saucepan and reduce to 2 cups and let cool.
• For the Chicken: Place chicken in a large baking dish. Brush 1 cup of the marinade over the chicken and inside the cavity. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or up to 8 hours. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Remove the chicken from the marinade and place the oranges, garlic and onions in the cavity and truss. Season well with salt and coarsely ground black pepper. Brush with more of the marinade. Place the chicken in a medium roasting pan and roast in the oven for 15 minutes. Turn the heat down to 375 degrees and continue roasting for 1 to 1 1/4 hours, basting with the marinade every 15 minutes. Remove the chicken to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes. Degrease the pan and place the roasting dish with the drippings on top of 2 burners over high heat. Add the wine and orange juice and reduce by half. Add the chicken stock and reduce by half. Swirl in the butter and add the chives. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• For the Polenta: Heat oil and butter in a large saute pan over high heat. Add the shallots and cook until soft. Add the mushrooms and cook until golden brown. Add the wine and cook until completely reduced. Season with salt and pepper and fold in the thyme and parsley, set aside. Heat a small saute pan over high heat. Add the polenta and toast until lightly golden brown. Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan and add 1 tablespoon of salt. Slowly whisk in the toasted polenta, and reduce the heat to low. Switch to a wooden spoon and continue cooking until the mixture begins to pull away from the pan. Add the mushrooms, cheese and season with salt and pepper. If the mixture is too thick, add more water.

SQUAB WITH YOUNG MORELS, ROAST GARLIC AND SAGE POLENTA

Steps:

• In small sauce pan saute shallots and chopped garlic in oil. Once they are soft, but not brown, transfer to a one-pint measuring cup. Add wine, bay leaves, thyme and peppercorns. In a nonreactive baking dish place squab, breast down, along bottom. Pour shallot marinade oven squab, cover, and refrigerate overnight. In a preheated 375 degree oven, place squab, breast-side up in baking dish. Discard marinade. Roast squab for 40 - 50 minutes, or until juices of breast meat turn clear when you poke with a fork. Serve with roasted garlic and polenta.
• For the Roast Garlic and Sage Polenta: Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In bowl toss garlic in 1 tablespoon olive oil. Wrap loosely in aluminum foil and roast in oven for 30 minutes. Remove and let cool. Peel cloves. In large saucepan add chicken broth and garlic. Bring to a boil and let simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside, preferably overnight. Remove garlic from broth, set aside, and bring broth to a boil. Slowly add the cornmeal, whisking constantly until fully incorporated, and mixture thickens. Lower heat and cook polenta for 20 minutes, stirring periodically. Add butter, creme fraiche, sage, salt, and pepper just before serving. Stir well to incorporate. In large saute pan saute morels in remaining oil over a high heat. Serve with squab.

OVEN-ROASTED CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Combine drained chickpeas, olive oil, 2 teaspoons salt, hot sauce, paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, black pepper, and cumin in a large bowl. Spread evenly over 2 baking sheets.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven, stirring every 10 to 15 minutes, until chickpeas are golden and look dry on the outside, about 45 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Let cool before serving, 5 to 10 minutes.