Grilled Spiced Squab Recipes

GRILLED DOVES, PORTUGUESE STYLE

Steps:

• To make the grilled doves, place all of the ingredients except the honey, doves, and black pepper in a food processor or blender and buzz until smooth, about 1 minute. Pour the marinade into 1 or 2 large resealable freezer bags and add the doves. Seal and mix the marinade around the doves so they're well coated. Toss in the fridge overnight.
• The next day, transfer the doves to a plate and pour the marinade into a small pot. Bring the marinade to a boil, stirring often. Taste it. If you want a hit of sweet-hot going on, a lot like a Portuguese BBQ sauce, add the honey.
• Get your grill as hot as it will go. You want the temperature to be at least 550°F (287°C) although 600°F (315°C) is better.
• Place the doves on the grill, breast side up. Cover the grill and cook the doves, undisturbed, for 4 to 6 minutes, depending on how done you like them. Around 4 minutes will result in medium-rare doves. (That said, all the Portuguese I know love their meat with more than a little char on it, so you can grill them for 1 to 2 minutes or so more if you want them blackened. This means you'll grill the doves for 6 to 10 minutes total.)
• Remove the birds from the grill and let them rest for at least a few minutes. Pour the warm sauce over the birds and grind some black pepper on top. Eat with your hands. Be sure to set out bowls nearby for the bones.

GRILLED RARE SQUAB WITH FOIE GRAS FRIED RICE AND POMEGRANATE MOLASSES SYRUP

Steps:

• For the squab: In a baking dish large enough to hold the squab, combine the soy sauce, molasses, wine, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, black pepper, and oil. Add the squab, turn to coat, and marinate, covered, about 1 hour.
• Prepare a medium-hot grill and season the squab with salt and pepper. Place the squab skin side down on the grill and cook until brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Turn and cook an additional 1 to 2 minutes for medium-rare. Be sure to cook the legs an extra 2 minutes on each side. Remove the squab and keep warm.
• For the fried rice: In a medium sautee pan coated with oil, sweat the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic over medium heat for five minutes. Add the rice and the oil and saute for 3 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the white wine, add the chicken stock, season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil. When the mixture begins to boil, turn the heat to low, cover, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes until done, then set aside. Prepare a medium saute pan over high heat. Season the foie gras with the salt and pepper, and then sear each side for about 1 minute each. Add the rice mixture to the foie gras and mix in the chives. Keep warm.
• For the syrup: In a medium saute pan, over high heat, add the oil and cook the shallots, and garlic until golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the squab bones and continue cooking until brown. Deglaze the pan with the wine, then add the molasses, thyme, bay leaf and chicken stock. Cook the mixture until the liquid is reduced by 1/2, and then strain to remove the bones. Return the strained liquid to the pan, reduce by half again and set aside. Garnish: 1 teaspoon truffle oil 1 teaspoon lemon juice Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 1/2 cup pea tendrils.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the truffle oil and the lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper and toss to coat the pea tendrils.
• Plating: Right before serving, whisk the butter and lemon juice into the sauce and correct the seasonings. Mound the rice at one end of a large oval platter. Place the squab breast and legs crisscrossed along the platter and place the pea tendril salad near the squab. Drizzle over the sauce.

GRILLED SPICED SQUAB

Steps:

• Remove heads and feet from squab. Insert a sharp knife through neck cavity and carefully split each bird down the back, keeping breast intact. Remove backbone, then carefully remove breastbone, cartilage and ribs. The bird should look like a butterfly, with only wing and leg bones attached.
• Place garlic cloves and ginger in the bowl of a food processor, and blend to a paste. Add aniseed, saffron, paprika, cayenne and lemon juice, and blend about 30 seconds to combine. Transfer blended ingredients to a mixing bowl, add chopped coriander and green onions and whisk in olive oil. Add freshly ground black pepper to taste.
• Place squab in a shallow ceramic or enameled dish, add spice marinade and turn to coat well. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bring to room temperature before grilling.
• Preheat broiler or outdoor grill to highest temperature. Sprinkle squab with salt. Grill squab, skin-side-up, for 4 minutes, and then turn to grill 3 minutes, skin-side-down. Baste frequently with marinade while cooking. Test for doneness: squab are best served rare. Suggested times are for a very hot fire. A home broiler will take longer than mesquite or charcoal briquettes.
• Serve with couscous, rice or a combination of bulgur wheat and rice, sprinkled with minced green onions and accompanied by a lemon wedge.

SIXTEEN SPICE RUBBED SQUAB SALAD WITH AGED GOAT CHEESE, WHITE CHICORY AND WILD MUSHROOM "VINAIGRETTE"

Steps:

• Season breasts with salt on both sides. Dredge breasts in the rub, skin side down only, tapping off any excess. Heat oil in a large saute pan over high heat. Cook the squab, rub-side down, in the pan until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Turn over and cook for 2 to 3 minutes for medium doneness. Divide the white chicory among 4 plates. Slice the squab on the bias into 4 slices and arrange on top of the chicory. Sprinkle with the goat cheese. Ladle the Wild Mushroom Vinaigrette lightly over the greens and squab and around the plate. Garnish with chopped chives.
• Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Will keep stored in an airtight container for 6 months.
• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large saute pan over high heat. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden brown. Whisk together the vinegar, shallot and mustard in a medium bowl. Slowly whisk in the olive oil and whisk until emulsified, whisk in the truffle oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Fold in the mushrooms and set aside.