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Quail with chestnuts and butternut squash

Prep time less than 30 mins
Cook time less than 30 mins
Serves 2
by Monica Galetti

From Saturday Kitchen
Quail is wonderful paired with crunchy roasted chestnuts and butternut squash.

Method


  1. Bring 500ml/18fl oz water and the brine ingredients to the boil then remove from the heat and cool.

  2. Spatchcock the quail by cutting up the back with a pair of scissors. Place in a bowl and cover with the cooled brine and chill for 30 minutes in the fridge.

  3. Remove the quail from the brine and pat dry. Season with the oil and a little salt and pepper.

  4. Place a large griddle pan over a hih heat. Once hot, cook the quail skin side down for 3½ minutes, then 3½ minutes on the other side. (The quail will still have some pink parts when done.)

  5. For the salad, mix all of the salad ingredients, except the butternut squash. Set aside.

  6. For the dressing, whisk all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Put the butternut squash in the dressing for 5 minutes to soften. Just before serving add the dressing to the salad.

  7. Heat the oil in a frying pan with the finely chopped chestnuts. Cook for 1-2 minutes.

  8. Place the quail on serving plates and drizzle over the chopped chestnuts. Serve the salad alongside.

Ingredients

For the brine

  • 160g/5¾oz sea salt
  • 80g/2¾oz caster sugar
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • 2 sprigs thyme
  • 1 orange, peeled
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 star Anise
  • 2 cloves

For the quail

  • 1-2 small quail
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the salad

  • ½ small red onion, finely chopped
  • 9 fresh chestnuts in shells, roasted, peeled and roughly chopped (reserve 4 to finely chop for the garnish)
  • 1 tbsp dried cranberries
  • 1 tbsp roughly shredded flatleaf parsley
  • 100g/3½oz butternut squash, peeled and julienned

For the dressing

  • 1 tsp wholegrain mustard
  • 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • ½ tbsp hazelnut oil

To serve

  • 50g/1¾oz unsalted butter

Shopping List

Quail with chestnuts and butternut squash

Fruit and vegetables

Tins, packets and jars

Cooking ingredients

Dairy, eggs and chilled

Meat, fish and poultry

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