Grilled Quail with Brioche, Foie Gras, and Rose Geranium Sauce
- Level: Advanced
- Yield: 4 main-course servings, or 8 appetizer servings
- Total: 2 hr 2 min
- Prep: 1 hr
- Inactive: 2 min
- Cook: 1 hr
Ingredients
8 deboned quail
1 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
3 tablespoons chopped fresh sage leaves
4 sweet potato brioche, cut in half and lightly buttered, recipe follows
8 to 10-ounce piece foie gras, lightly seasoned with salt and pepper
Rose Geranium Sauce, recipe follows
Sweet Potato Shoestrings, recipe follows
Rose Geranium Sauce:
2 medium shallots, minced
1 cup Riesling, or other fruity white wine
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 cups quail or dark chicken broth
1/4 cup Rose Geranium Jelly (or other rose-scented jelly, usually available at Middle Eastern grocery stores)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Salt and pepper
Sweet Potato Brioche:
1 or 2 medium sweet potatoes, baked whole until tender
7 eggs
3 ounces whole milk
.38 ounces yeast
1 pound 4 ounces all-purpose flour
12 ounces butter (cut into small pieces)
Sweet Potato Shoestrings:
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into matchsticks
Salt
Directions
- Marinate the quail in olive oil, thyme, and sage for at least 2 hours, up to overnight, in the refrigerator.
- Preheat a grill. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Remove the quail from the marinade and season with salt and pepper. Place the quail, breast-side-up, on a medium hot grill. Cook for 3 minutes, then turn over so the breast-side is down, and cook for 2 minutes. Then lift and adjust position on the grill to create an "x" mark on the breast. Finish cooking for about 4 minutes, about 8 to 9 minutes total cooking time.
- While the quail are cooking, sear the foie gras in a dry, medium-hot pan. Place in the oven for 4 minutes. Remove from the oven, place the foie gras on a cutting board and slice into 8 pieces. Lightly toast the brioche, place a piece of foie gras on each half and a quail on top. Spoon the sauce over the quail and garnish with Sweet Potato Shoestrings.
Rose Geranium Sauce:
- Place the shallots, wine, and vinegar in a small pot. Bring to a boil, the reduce the heat and simmer until reduced by half. Add the stock and continue to reduce until you have about 1/2 cup of liquid left. Whisk in the jelly, then add the butter and season, to taste. The sauce should be glossy and syrupy, but not too sweet. Add a drop of vinegar, to balance, if necessary. Set aside and keep warm.
Sweet Potato Brioche:
- Bake the sweet potatoes until very soft. Let cool. Peel and weigh out 12 ounces. Put the sweet potatoes in the bowl of an electric mixer. Using a paddle, mix for 2 minutes on medium speed or until mashed. Then add egg, milk, and yeast and mix for 1 minute. Add the rest of the dry ingredients and mix for 6 minutes on medium speed. Let rest for 15 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Add the cold butter in stages on speed 2. Mix for 6 to 8 minutes to smooth out the brioche, until it does not stick to the sides of the bowl. Divide into 2-ounce balls and place in muffin tins or brioche molds. Let rest in a warm place for 1 1/2 hours. Brush with egg wash and bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
Sweet Potato Shoestrings:
- Preheat a fryer to 325 degrees F. Add the potatoes and fry until crispy. Drain on paper towels and season with salt.