Sweet Sticky Roast Quail Recipes

GRANDMA'S QUAIL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Heat the shortening in a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat.
• Season the quail with the garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste. Place the flour in a shallow dish; roll the quail in the flour.
• Working in batches, brown the quail on all sides in the preheated shortening. Place the browned quail in a large roasting pan or casserole dish; pour the water over the quail and cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, or to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F (75 degrees C), taken in the thickest part of the thigh. Spoon the sour cream over the quails, allow the sour cream to melt before serving.

ROASTED QUAIL

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C) and lightly grease your cast iron skillet or baking dish.
• Pat the quail dry and then brush with olive oil and season with poultry seasoning.
• Transfer the seasoned quail to a baking dish. Roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the quail is done (*see note).
• Transfer your quail to a tray, plate, or cutting board and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.

SPATCHCOCK ROTISSERIE QUAIL WITH SWEET MARINADE

Steps:

• For the sticky soy glaze: Mix the sweet soy sauce, vinegar, oyster sauce, garlic, ginger, gochugaru and 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl and set aside.
• For the quail: Lay 1 quail on your cutting board with the breast facedown and the backbone facing up. Starting at the tail end, cut along the backbone using kitchen shears. Turn the quail over on the cutting board so the cut side is on the board and the breast side is facing up. Using the palm of your hand, lightly press down on the quail until you hear a crack and the quail rests flat on the cutting board. Repeat with the remaining 7 quail. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Add the quail to the sticky soy glaze, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Set up a hardwood fire and let it burn to low-burning embers (see Cook's Note). Set up your grate for direct and indirect heat cooking.
• Remove the quail from the marinade and reserve the marinade for basting. Use 1 bamboo skewer to pierce through the quail's left thigh and breast. Use a second skewer to pierce through the right thigh and breast. Repeat with the remaining 7 quail. Place each quail skin-side down on the perimeter of the grill grate over direct heat, making sure that the skewers are not on the grate. Grill, flipping every 1 to 2 minutes, until the quail is golden brown and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Brush the cooked quail with the reserved marinade and cook until the glaze is dry and sticky, 3 to 5 minutes more.
• Serve the quail with the Tiger Bite Hot Sauce, sticky rice and grilled vegetables.
• Set up a hardwood fire and let it burn to low-burning embers (see Cook's Note). Set up your grate for direct and indirect heat cooking.
• Brush the garlic, chiles and shallot with oil and sprinkle with salt. Place the garlic and chiles on a small baking sheet or boat made with heavy duty aluminum foil. Place the tray and the shallot, cut-side down, on the grill grate over indirect heat. Grill until soft and tender, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board. Stem the roasted chiles and quarter the shallots.
• Using a mortar and pestle, combine the chiles, garlic, shallots, salt and pepper into a coarse paste. Add the cilantro and combine until it is broken into small pieces. Stir in the fish sauce, oyster sauce, lime juice and 2 to 3 tablespoons oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

QUAILS WITH FIGS & WALNUT SAUCE

Steps:

• To make a marinade, mix the herbs, lemon zest, brandy, seasoning and 6 tbsp olive oil in a large dish. Season the birds and spoon some marinade into the cavities. Roll them in the rest of the marinade, then cover and chill overnight.
• For the walnut sauce, whizz the garlic and walnuts together with a little salt in a small food processor until finely chopped. Add the oil in a thin stream, as though you're making a mayonnaise. Stir in 2 tbsp warm water. Season with pepper, add the parsley and set aside.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. To cook the quail, wipe any herbs from the breast area. Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large frying pan and, when really hot, quickly brown the birds all over, in batches, colouring but not cooking the meat.
• Put a piece of butter inside each bird and put them into a roasting tin. Roast in the oven for 15-20 mins, depending on whether you like the meat to be a little pink, adding a quarter of the vermouth after 10 mins. Put the figs in a small gratin dish in a single layer. Drizzle with the honey and balsamic, then season. Roast for 20 mins, alongside the quail, basting during cooking. The figs should be dark and tender but holding their shape. Cover to keep warm and set aside.
• Put the quail on a warm platter and cover. Put the roasting tin on the hob over a high heat. Add the rest of the vermouth, bring to the boil and bubble until there's 150ml left. Add the stock and boil until you have a slightly syrupy sauce, enough for 2 tbsp per serving of quail. Put two birds on each plate and spoon over the reduced sauce. Serve with three fig halves each and the walnut sauce.