Pheasant A La CrÈme Food

PHEASANT (OR CHICKEN) EN CREME

Steps:

• Place pheasant in a 9x9x2-inch baking dish.
• Mix soup, cider, Worcestershire sauce, onion, garlic and mushrooms; pour over pheasant.
• Sprinkle generously with paprika.
• Bake at 350°F for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, basting occasionally with sauce.
• After baking 1 hour, sprinkle with paprika again.

PHEASANT IN CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Place pheasant in an ungreased 11x7-in. baking dish. Combine the next eight ingredients; pour over pheasant. Sprinkle generously with paprika. Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 1-1/2 hours until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175°, basting occasionally. Sprinkle again with paprika before serving.

BREAST OF PHEASANT WITH SOUR-CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Sprinkle the breasts with salt, pepper and paprika.
• Melt the butter in a heavy nonstick skillet large enough to hold the pheasant breasts in one layer. Add the breasts and cook over medium-high heat for 3 minutes or until they are lightly browned. Turn the breasts and cook for 3 minutes more. Add the onions and thyme. Stir and cook until the onions are wilted. Add the wine to dissolve the brown particles that cling to the bottom of the pan. Continute cooking until most of the wine evaporates.
• Add the heavy cream and cook until the liquid is reduced by half. Add the sour cream, blend well and bring to a boil, stirring until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasonings and serve very hot.

PHEASANT BREAST à L'ORANGE WITH DRIED APRICOTS & PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Cut each pheasant in half across the middle, lengthways so that you have 4 thin slithers of breast. Cut the apricots in the same way. Lay out 3 overlapping slices of prosciutto or bacon and place a sprig of thyme on top. Pop a piece of breast on top of this and lay 3 pieces of apricot on top of the breast. Season with salt and pepper, then wrap the prosciutto tightly around the pheasant to form a parcel. Repeat with the remaining pheasant, prosciutto and apricot to make 4 parcels. You can make these the day before and chill overnight.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Heat a heavy-bottomed frying pan over a high flame and add the butter and 1 tbsp oil. When the fats are sizzling, add the pheasant parcels and cook for 3-4 mins on each side until the prosciutto is crisp and golden. The heat from the pan will seal the prosciutto tightly around the pheasant breast.
• Pop the breasts onto a baking tray and roast in the oven for 5-7 mins to finish cooking. Meanwhile, add the zest and juice from the 2 oranges, cinnamon, honey and soy to the pan juices and simmer to reduce until syrupy. Toss the watercress with the remaining oil and a squeeze of orange juice. Serve the pheasant parcels with the orange sauce, watercress and rice.

PHEASANT A LA CRÈME

Steps:

• Roll pheasant in flour and brown in skillet in hot oil. Drain. Place pheasant in a casserole dish or 9 x 13 glass baking pan. Add chicken stock and shallots. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 ½ hours. Add heavy cream, sherry, white wine, and salt. Cover and bake for another 1 ½ hours. This dish is very elegant and rich. The pheasant literally melts in your mouth. Enjoy!