Best Apple Quail Recipes

SOUTHERN-STYLE BIRDS IN A NEST WITH BUTTER GRITS, GREENS WITH BACON, OVER-EASY QUAIL EGGS AND GREEN TOMATO AND GREEN APPLE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• For the chutney: Combine the green tomatoes, brown sugar, cider vinegar, curry powder, mustard seeds, fennel pollen, allspice, ginger, apple and red onion in a medium heavy-bottomed pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes. Taste and thin with chicken stock as desired. Adjust the seasonings to taste.
• For the greens and bacon: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp; remove to a paper-towel-lined plate. Lower the heat to medium, add the garlic and shallot, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes. Add in the chard and beet greens and let wilt for a few minutes. Deglaze the pan with vinegar, then add the sugar, nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste, and a dash of hot sauce. Add some of the bacon back to the pan, and combine. Use the remaining bacon as garnish.
• For the butter grits: In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken stock, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon of the butter to a boil. Add the grits and bring to a simmer. Stir, then partially cover, and cook, whisking occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
• Add in 1/2 cup milk, whisk and partially cover. Cook, whisking occasionally, for another 15 minutes.
• Add in the remaining 1/2 cup milk and cook partially covered, whisking occasionally, another 15 minutes.
• Add the remaining tablespoon butter and season to taste with salt. Use additional stock to adjust the consistency as needed. Serve the grits with the quail eggs.

ROASTED QUAIL WITH SAVORY APPLE AND CHEDDAR CROUSTADE

Steps:

• To prepare the croustade:
• Slice the apples into thin wedges. To a hot saute pan, add 2 tablespoons of the butter and immediately add the apples. Saute over high heat while tossing the apples, cooking until the apples begin to soften and brown on the edges, approximately 3 minutes. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of the chopped herbs and season with salt and pepper; continue to cook for 30 seconds. Remove the apples from the heat and let them cool for 10 to 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Lay out the pie dough disks and evenly spread 2 tablespoons of the grated cheddar on each. Place approximately 3 to 4 tablespoons of the apple mixture in the center of each pie dough disk. To form the croustade work from the outside in, folding in 2-inch pleats and continue around until the folds meet each other. The croustade should have an accordion look with a hole in the center; it should look like a small volcano.
• Either set aside and keep refrigerated until ready to bake, or bake in a 450 degree F oven for 8 to 10 minutes until evenly golden brown. Keep warm until ready to use.
• To prepare the quail:
• Slice the fennel very thinly. Heat a saute pan over high heat, add 2 tablespoons of butter, and then add the fennel and saute for 3 to 4 minutes until the fennel starts to become tender and translucent. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Let cool for 10 minutes.
• Carefully open the breast cavity of each quail and fill the cavity with approximately 1 tablespoon of the sauteed fennel. Do not over-stuff the quail, as they will shrink when cooking.
• Place the quail in a bowl or shallow container. Add 1 1/2 cups of the red wine, the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of chopped herbs, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Gently toss the quail to evenly disperse the herbs, salt and pepper. Marinate the quail in the refrigerator, covered, for at least 3 hours and up to 12 hours.
• In a separate bowl, combine the blueberries and the remaining 1/2 cup of wine and let sit for 1 to 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Remove the quail from the marinade and drain off the excess liquid, discarding the remaining marinade. To a large oven-safe saute pan over high heat, add enough vegetable oil to evenly coat the pan (about 2 tablespoons). Place the quail, breast-side down, in the pan and cook for 2 minutes or until evenly browned. Turn the quail over and cook for 1 minute on the other side, or until browned. Place the saute pan in the oven and roast for 8 to 10 minutes, or until fully cooked through.
• Remove the quail from the pan and immediately add the wine and blueberry mixture. Return the pan to the stovetop and cook over high heat for 2 minutes. Add the chicken stock. Season with salt and pepper and add a healthy pinch of the herb blend. Continue to cook for 2 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of butter and remove from the heat. Whisk the sauce until the butter is incorporated.
• Place a warm croustade on each plate. Split the quail down the middle and arrange around the croustade. Drizzle the sauce on and around the quail and evenly distribute the blueberries. Serve immediately.

BRAISED QUAIL WITH CHORIZO/APPLE STUFFING

Steps:

• Set a large skillet over medium heat. Place in 3 tablespoons of olive oil and bring to temperature. Place in garlic and onions, and cook until onions start to become translucent. Add Chorizo, cumin and oregano and cook well. Place the sausage mixture into a small mixing bowl, add apple, and mix well. In a clean pan, heat the butter. Brown quail on all sides. Add wine and cook for 30 seconds. Add chicken stock, cover, and cook 6-8 minutes. Remove quail and keep warm. Reduce the sauce until thick.

BROILED QUAIL WITH RAISIN AND APPLE STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler to high.
• In a saucepan, bring the chicken broth to a simmer.
• Heat another saucepan, and add the sausage meat. Cook and stir for 2 minutes, breaking the meat into small pieces. Add the onion, and cook, stirring, until wilted. Add the apple, raisins, couscous, warmed broth, cumin, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, stirring. Cover tightly, remove from the heat, and let stand for 5 minutes.
• Add the gin and coriander, and blend well with a fork. Divide the mixture into 8 portions. Set aside.
• Salt and pepper the cavity of each quail. Add the stuffing with your hands. Crisscross the legs, and flatten the quail so they will cook evenly.
• Pour the butter and oil into a baking dish large enough to hold the quail in one layer. Add the quail, and sprinkle with half of the thyme. Turn the quail in the butter and oil mixture, and sprinkle with salt, pepper and the remaining thyme. Then turn the quail breast side down.
• Place the quail under the broiler about 6 inches from the heat source. Leave the door partly open. Cook them about 4 minutes until lightly browned. Turn the quail breast side up. Return them to the broiler, and basting occasionally, broil for 4 minutes longer or until nicely browned.
• Set the oven at 400 degrees. Place the quail on the bottom rack, and bake for 2 to 3 minutes, basting with the butter and oil mixture and the lemon juice. Serve immediately with the sauce.

QUAIL WITH GRITS, APPLE AND CELERY ROOT

Steps:

• Remove breasts from quails and place in a bowl with 1/4 cup oil and thyme. Chill for several hours. Separate legs and wings from carcasses. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add legs, wings and carcasses and brown, about 5 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon oil and onion, celery and carrot and saute until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in 2 cups water and bring to a boil. Skim, reduce heat and simmer until reduced to 1 cup, about 20 minutes. Strain, discard solids and stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Set aside.
• For grits, melt butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add shallot and garlic and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add 1 1/4 cups water and bring to a boil. Stir in grits, lower heat and cook, stirring often, until thick, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add quail breasts skin side down and saute until golden brown and slightly pink in the center, about 1 minute per side. Remove from skillet, season with salt and pepper and keep warm. Add celery root and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the apple and cook for 1 minute. Stir in grits, 1/2 cup quail broth, 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper.
• Divide grits among 4 plates. Top with breasts and drizzle with broth. Serve immediately.

APPLE QUAIL

Steps:

• Mix flour salt and paprika; lightly flour quail pieces.
• Melt butter in heavy frying pan and brown quail.
• Push quail to one side of pan.
• Add onion and saute until tender (add 1 tablespoon more butter if needed to saute onion).
• Add parsley, thyme and apple juice.
• Stir to mix well and spoon juice over quail while bringing all to a boil.
• Reduce heat, cover and simmer until quail are tender (about 1 hour).
• Serve quail on a bed of rice with sauteed apples on the side.