SOUTHERN-FRIED QUAIL WITH BLUE CHEESE DRESSING

Southern-fried quail with blue cheese dressing image

Try a more refined type of fried chicken using quail with an indulgent blue cheese dipping sauce. These golden-brown bites are perfect party food

Provided by Tom Kerridge

Time 16m

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

100ml buttermilk
¼ tsp ground cumin
3 quails , split in half through the middle so you have six halves
sunflower oil , for deep-frying
celery leaves , to serve (optional)
4 tbsp mayonnaise
4 tbsp buttermilk
40g soft blue cheese , crumbled
pinch celery salt
250g plain flour
½ tsp cayenne pepper
½ tsp onion salt
¼ tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp chilli flakes

Steps:

Mix the 100ml buttermilk, cumin and a large pinch of salt together in a bowl. Put the quail halves in the buttermilk mix so they are completely covered, then chill for at least 6 hrs or overnight.
To make the dressing, beat the mayonnaise, buttermilk, cheese and celery salt together - don't worry if it's not totally smooth. Keep chilled.
When ready to cook, mix all the spiced flour ingredients together. Heat a deep-fat fryer or a deep pan with sunflower oil to 175C. Remove the quail from the fridge, then dip each half in the spiced our and carefully drop them in the fryer.
Fry for about 6 mins until golden and crisp, then drain on kitchen paper and leave to rest for 2 mins or so. Pile onto a large serving plate, put the blue cheese sauce on the side for dipping, and scatter over the celery leaves, if you like.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 689 calories, Fat 42 grams fat, SaturatedFat 6 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 51 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 3 grams sugar, Fiber 3 grams fiber, Protein 25 grams protein, Sodium 0.9 milligram of sodium