Panfried Pressed Poussins Food

PANFRIED PRESSED POUSSINS

Steps:

• Cut out backbones from birds with kitchen shears. Pat birds dry, then spread flat, skin sides up, on a cutting board. Cut a 1/2-inch slit on each side of each bird in center of triangle of skin between thighs and breasts (near drumstick), then tuck bottom knob of drumstick through each slit. Tuck wing tips under breasts. Sprinkle birds on both sides with sea salt and pepper.
• Heat butter in 10-inch cast-iron or heavy nonstick skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides. Add birds, skin sides down, and cover with parchment round and second skillet, then top with weights. Cook birds until skin is browned, about 15 minutes. Turn birds over, cover with parchment round, skillet, and weights, then cook until just cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes more.
• Transfer birds to a platter, discarding parchment, and cover loosely with foil. Add stock to skillet and deglaze by boiling over high heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, until reduced to about 1/2 cup, about 5 minutes. Skim fat from surface.
• Halve birds lengthwise and serve each half drizzled with pan juices.

PAN ROASTED POUSSIN WITH YUKON GOLD HASH AND BONE MARROW SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saute pan. Season poussin with salt and pepper and sear on both sides until golden brown. Place the pan on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until cooked through. Remove the poussin from the pan and pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat.;
• Heat the duck fat in a large saute pan over high heat. Add the potatoes, season with salt and pepper and cook until lightly golden brown. Add the remaining ingredients and cook until heated through. Fold in the parsley and reseason with salt and pepper, to taste.;
• Place the saute pan with the chicken drippings on the stove and heat until almost smoking. Add the shallots and cook until lightly golden brown. Add the red wine and port and cook until reduced by 3/4. Add the chicken stock and reduce by half. Whisk in the bone marrow and season with salt and pepper, to taste.;

CHRISTMAS POUSSIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 230C/fan 210C/gas 8. Smear the butter all over the poussins, season inside and out, then criss-cross the bacon over each one. Sit the poussins in a roasting tin and cook for 40 mins until the birds are golden and the bacon is crisp. Remove from the tin, leave to rest and set the tin aside until you're ready to make the gravy.
• About 5 mins before you sit down to eat, make the gravy. Place the tin on a medium heat, then stir in the flour and splash in the Worcestershire sauce. Bubble together, then drain the veg over the roasting tin and stir in the vegetable stock. Bring the gravy to the boil, taste for seasoning, adding more Worcestershire sauce if needed, then pour into a warm gravy jug.

FRESH TOMATO AND ONION CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Soak onion with 1/2 teaspoon sea salt in 1 cup cold water 15 minutes, then drain well in a sieve. Transfer to a bowl and stir in tomatoes, jalapeño, lemon juice, and orange juice.
• Cook ginger, mustard seeds, and turmeric in oil in a small skillet over moderately low heat, stirring, until seeds begin to pop, about 2 minutes. Stir into tomatoes with pepper and remaining 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, then let stand at least 1 hour for flavors to develop.
• Just before serving, drain chutney in a sieve set over a bowl, discarding liquid.

THYME-ROASTED POUSSIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees.
• Rinse the poussins and season the cavities with salt and pepper. Rub each with 1/4 teaspoon olive oil. Fill each cavity with a lemon wedge, 2 sprigs each of thyme and marjoram, and 1 crushed garlic clove.
• Loosen the skin from the breast of each poussin. Slide a sprig each of thyme and marjoram between the skin and the breast. Spoon the Cognac (1/2 tablespoon per bird) into the breast pockets of each poussin. Truss with kitchen string.
• On a roasting rack set in a roasting pan, roast for 30 minutes, or until the juices run clear when the thigh is pierced with a fork.