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Alternative Meats Ltd.
The Dutch Barn
Highfield Farm
Wem
Shropshire
SY4 5UN

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tel: 0844 545 6070
fax:0844 545 6080

e:Info@alternativemeats.co.uk

 
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QUAIL- Delicious Ideas

Quail in Cognac

Ingredients (serves 8)

8 Alternative Meats Boneless Quail
8 slices of Maynards Traditional Dry Cure Bacon
(cut into two inch pieces)
Four cloves of garlic
Two sprigs of fresh thyme
Small glass of red wine (or two!!)
Two tablespoons of cognac
Stock (about 1/4 pint)
Butter
Triangles of White Bread or croutons
Fresh parsley, chopped

Method

Sauté the quail in a large flat pan with the bacon, for about 10 minutes. Add the garlic cloves and the sprigs of thyme and cook for about two - three minutes basting frequently. Remove the birds to a plate, keeping warm, and pour off the fat from the pan. Deglaze the pan with a little red wine, the cognac and some stock to suit the amount of sauce required. Reduce this slightly by gently simmering and season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Whip in some soft butter to thicken slightly. Take some butter in a fresh pan and fry the bread, arranging either under the quail or around the serving plate. Pour the sauce over and sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley.....

Penny's Recipe for Quail with Raisins, Walnuts and Grapes
We were fortunate to overhear a friend, Penny Cunningham, discussing this wonderfully simple recipe for Quail, which we persuaded her to share with us!

Ingredients (Serves 4)

8 plump boneless quail from Alternative Meats; 4 rashers bacon, rind removed; 175 fl oz stock; 1 onion chopped; 1 bay leaf; few sprigs of parsley; 3 tablespoons of white wine; salt and pepper; 1 heaped teaspoon flour; 100g or 4 oz seedless grapes, halved; 25g or 1 oz walnuts, roughly chopped; 1 tablespoon raisins; 2 tablespoons double cream and a few sprigs of watercress to garnish.



Recipe :
Cut each bacon rasher in half and put a piece over each quail breast. Put the quail in a roasting tin and pour in the stock. Add the onion, bay leaf, parsley sprigs and white wine. Season with salt and pepper. Roast the quail in a moderately hot oven (200C, 400F, Gas Mark 6) for 15 minutes, then remove the bacon and continue cooking for a further 10 minutes, when the quail should be pale brown and very tender. Put the quail on a serving dish, cover and keep warm while you make the gravy. Heat the juices from the tin and strain them. Skim off any fat in to a teacup. Mix this fat to a paste with the teaspoon of flour. Pour some of the hot stock into the cup, mixing well. Then return the flour mixture and the hot stock to a saucepan or the roasting tin and stir steadily until boiling. Check the seasoning and add salt and pepper if necessary. Then add the grapes, walnuts and raisins, reheat and stir in the cream. Spoon the sauce over the quail and garnish with the watercress. Serves 4.

Quail in Cognac
These small but tasty birds have been boned out and prepared for you - just follow the simple recipe above and voila! a classic winter game dish for you to present to discerning guests. (Or just to enjoy yourself, of course!)