ANDOUILLE CORNBREAD STUFFED QUAIL, RED EYE GRAVY

Andouille Cornbread Stuffed Quail, Red Eye Gravy image

Provided by Robert Irvine : Food Network

Time 1h20m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

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Ingredients

1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
1/4 cup diced andouille
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
1 teaspoon minced fresh tarragon
1 teaspoon ginger powder
Salt and ground pepper
2 cups crushed or pureed cornbread
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup minced red onion
1/4 cup diced tasso ham
1/4 cup coffee
1/2 cup veal stock
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
4 whole quail
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature
Salt and ground pepper
2 cups mashed potatoes, for serving
24 halved braised Brussels sprouts, for serving

Steps:

For the stuffing: In a pan over high heat, add the oil and allow to warm. Then reduce the heat and add the andouille and garlic, warming for 2 minutes, stirring throughout. Once warmed, add the stock, herbs, ginger powder and salt and pepper to taste, and again warm for 2 minutes. Once heated, remove and add to the cornbread and fold all the ingredients together. Allow to sit or rest for 20 minutes before stuffing the quail. This will allow all ingredients to bloom together, creating the stuffing.
For the red eye gravy: In a small saucepan, warm the butter until melted, and then add the onions and cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Once the onions are cooked, add the tasso and allow the onions and tasso to blend for 2 minutes. Next, add the coffee and allow the liquid to reduce by half in volume. Once the coffee has reduced, add the stock and parsley, reduce the heat to medium-low and allow to simmer for 10 to 12 minutes. Once finished, hold warm until serving.
For the quail: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. To stuff and cook the quail, portion the stuffing into 4 portions and then fill each quail cavity. Once stuffed, rub the exterior of the birds with the butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Then bake for 16 to 18 minutes (or fry in in preheated 375 degree oil for 4 minutes), ensuring the stuffing is warmed above 165 degrees. Once cooked, remove from the oven and rest the quail while plating the remainder of ingredients.
To plate, portion quarter of the potatoes to the center of a plate, then add Brussels to the side of the potatoes, then top the potatoes with a quail and finish with the prepared sauce.