Quail In The Pan With Porcini Food

ROASTED QUAIL WITH WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• To clean the mushrooms, wash in a bowl of cold water, gently tossing so as not to bruise them. Repeat 2 times. Using a paring knife, trim the ends and scrape the stems, removing the outer layer. Let dry thoroughly on paper towels at room temperature or uncovered in your refrigerator-this could take up to a couple of hours and can be done the day before.
• In a large sauté pan over high heat, heat the 1 teaspoon oil. Add the mushrooms and cook until browned. Reduce the heat to medium and add the port, scraping up any brown bits on the bottom. Reduce until the liquid is a syrupy consistency, about 10 minutes.
• In a food processor fitted with a steel blade, puree the chicken cubes and livers; slowly add the egg whites, then the cream. Mix until thoroughly combined. Pass the poultry puree through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl. Roughly chop the cooled mushrooms and add (with any residual juice) to the bowl with the poultry puree.
• Preheat the oven to 325°F. Season the quail inside and out with salt.
• Scoop the poultry puree into a pastry piping bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round tip or a large plastic storage bag with one 1/2-inch corner snipped. Pipe puree into each quail body and tie the legs together with butcher's twine.
• Heat a large cast-iron or heavy-bottomed ovenproof sauté pan over medium heat. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and brown the quail on all sides. You may need to work in batches. Transfer the pan to the oven (use two pans or transfer to a large roasting pan if necessary) and roast the quail for 30 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted in the center of the quail registers 155°F. Let rest in the pan for 5 minutes before serving.

GRILLED QUAIL WITH PORCINI SAUCE

Steps:

• Wipe the quails dry with paper towels. Cut them down the back and spread them out flat.
• Combine two cloves garlic, the rosemary, one-quarter cup olive oil and the lemon juice in a large bowl. Marinate the three quails at room temperature for two hours, turning from time to time.
• Meanwhile soak the porcini in the hot water for 30 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and rinse under cold running water. Squeeze dry and set aside. Strain the soaking liquid through coffee filter paper, cheesecloth or paper towels and set aside.
• Heat the remaining olive oil and the butter in a large skillet. Add the remaining garlic, the porcini and the prosciutto and saute until the garlic just begins to turn golden. Add the mushroom soaking liquid and cook, stirring from time to time, until the soaking liquid has almost entirely evaporated (about 15 minutes). Meanwhile, preheat grill or coals.
• Add the fresh mushrooms to the skillet and cook another five to seven minutes. Season to taste with lemon juice, salt and pepper and keep warm.
• Grill the quail, cooking the skin side first and turning once or twice for 10 minutes, or until the birds are cooked. Baste with their marinade as you cook and be careful not to overcook them or the meat will be dry.
• Serve the quail on individual serving plates and spoon the mushroom sauce around them.

PAN ROASTED QUAIL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place 1 truffle shaving and 1 shallot into the cavity of each quail. Season the quail with salt and pepper.
• Heat the olive oil over high heat in a large heavy bottomed ovenproof skillet. Place the quail in the skillet breast side down and cook until the skin is golden brown in color. Turn the quail and cook for 3 more minutes. Place the skillet directly in the oven and roast for approximately 10 minutes. Let the quail rest for 5 minutes before serving.
• Heat the butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
• Add the onion, shallot and garlic and cook until translucent. Add the quinoa and toast until golden, stirring to brown evenly. Add the kosher salt. Add 1 cup of water and simmer the quinoa until all the water is absorbed. Add remaining 2 cups of water, 1 at a time, simmering until quinoa is tender.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the prosciutto, thyme and lemon zest.
• Yield: 6 servings
• Preparation Time: 15 minutes
• Cooking Time: 40 minutes
• Place the cider, white wine vinegar and brown sugar together in a stainless steel pot.
• Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add in the dried dates, Granny Smith apple, garlic and ginger. Cook for 15 minutes or until most of the liquid has been absorbed.
• Stir in the fresh figs, paprika, cardamom and kosher salt. Cook for 5 minutes.
• The chutney will keep for several weeks stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

QUAIL IN THE PAN WITH PORCINI

Steps:

• 1 Soak the mushrooms in the water for at least 30 minutes. Lift the mushrooms out of the water, reserving the liquid. Rinse the mushrooms under cool running water, paying special attention to the stem ends where soil collects. Strain the reserved mushroom liquid through a cloth napkin or paper coffee filter into a bowl. Chop the mushrooms coarsely. Set aside. 2 Rinse the quail inside and out and pat them thoroughly dry. Look them over for any pinfeathers and remove them. Place a piece of pancetta, a sage leaf, and a pinch of salt and pepper inside. 3 In a large skillet, heat the butter and oil over medium heat. Add the quail and cook, turning them occasionally, until nicely browned on all sides, about 15 minutes. Transfer the quail to a plate. Add the onion, carrot, and celery to the pan. Cook, stirring frequently, 5 minutes or until softened. 4 Add the wine and simmer 1 minute. Stir in the mushrooms, tomato paste, and mushroom liquid. Return the quail to the pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. 5 Bring the liquid to a simmer. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook, turning and basting the quail occasionally, about 1 hour or until the birds are very tender when pierced with a fork. 6 If there is too much liquid in the pan, remove the quail to a serving platter and cover with foil to keep them warm. Turn the heat to high and boil the liquid until it is reduced. Spoon the sauce over the quail and serve immediately. From "1,000 Italian Recipes." Copyright 2004 by Michele Scicolone. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.