Ingredients
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 fennel bulb, cut into 1/4-inch dice
- 1/4 onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice
- Pinch crushed red pepper
- Kosher salt
- 1/2 pound bulk fennel sausage
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano
- 1 egg
- 1/2 bunch fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped
- 4 semi-boneless quail, wingtips removed
- 4 slices bacon
- 1/2 cup dry port wine
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 3 cups baby arugula, washed and dried
Directions
Coat a large saute pan lightly with olive oil. Toss in the fennel, onions and crushed red pepper. Season with salt and bring the pan to a medium-high heat. Cook the onions and fennel until they are soft and wilted but don't have any color, 7 to 8 minutes. Turn off the heat and let them cool.
In a bowl, combine the sausage, breadcrumbs, Parmigiano, egg, parsley and cooked onions and fennel. Mix well to combine.
Divide the stuffing among the 4 quail. Press each quail to lightly flatten and evenly disperse the stuffing. Wrap each quail with a bacon slice and secure the bacon with a toothpick. Tie the quail's legs together with butcher's twine (otherwise they will look like road kill).
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and bring the pan to a medium-high heat. Sprinkle the quail with salt and add it to the pan. Brown them really well on each side, 3 to 4 minutes. When the quail are brown on both sides, transfer the quail to a baking sheet and put them in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the oven, remove the toothpicks and reserve the quail.
Meanwhile, ditch the fat from the pan and add the port wine. Cook the wine over medium heat until it has reduced by half. Add 3/4 cup chicken stock, season with salt and reduce by half. Add the remaining chicken stock and reduce it by about three-quarters, or until it seems a little bit thickened. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
Divide the arugula among 4 serving plates. Place a quail on each pile of arugula and spoon some of the sauce on the quail and the arugula. Serve immediately.
Wine Pairing Suggestion: Alsatian Gewurztraminer
Photo: Sausage Stuffed Quail Recipe
















Review This Recipe
You must be logged in to review this recipe.
or Sign Up to Review
Newest Ratings and Reviews
Read all 4 reviews
By weedr
dallas, tx
on January 27, 2013
Flag
Flag This Review?
Please provide the reason why you think this review is inappropriate.
or Cancel
I love making something out of the ordinary for my family and this did not disappoint. I also had to debone mine myself- that aside, they were gorgeous and tasted great. This recipe will be made again!
By Amateur Cook in NH
New Hampshire
on January 02, 2012
Flag
Flag This Review?
Please provide the reason why you think this review is inappropriate.
or Cancel
This recipe involves a lot of steps, but is worth it! This was my first time cooking quail, and I was a little intimidated, but it was actually really fun. The stuffing recipe stretched to 12 small quail (4 per pound. Even with them being small and with less stuffing per bird than the recipe called for, I needed to cook them quite a bit longer than specfied to have the quail and sausage cook through. Definitely worth the effort -- my family (including my kids gobbled them up!
By amateurgirl
florida
on November 27, 2011
Flag
Flag This Review?
Please provide the reason why you think this review is inappropriate.
or Cancel
We loved this! I had to get frozen quail and debone them myself and it was worth it! I followed the recipe exactly except I baked them a bit longer (10 min as I was worried about the stuffing getting done. (I may have overstuffed them : They came out so moist and flavorful, rich and filling. It was my first time using quail and now I can't wait to try some other stuffings - in addition to this one! Every Anne Burrell recipe I've made comes out perfect. I learn something from every show. Keep it up, Anne! You are an Iron Chef to me!
Read all 4 reviews