Those tiny birds pack in big flavors! Quail has been a delicacy in many countries for thousands of years possibly more than chicken!
Quail comes in various sizes and flavors and if you can get your hands on them, try mountain quail for the optimum flavor. These gamey birds are both best enjoyed as starters or light meals and have many variables regards to how to cook them.
Slow-cooked or indeed quickly roasted on the bone. The tiny bones can easily be chewed and one can experiment greatly with what garnish to use.
1. Roasted Quail
Recipe via honest-food.net
Simply and possibly the most popular way to cook them. Butter will work best while trying to brown the bird however olive oil will work as well for the healthy conscient. After cooking to your desired ways, take them out of the oven and blow torch the skin to further add crispiness without being afraid of drying out the meat itself. Delightful like a roasted farmed chicken yet so much subtler in flavor.
2. Rainier Cherry & Maple Glazed Bandera Quail
Recipe via hollistercanada.com
Bandera quail is from Bandera, Texas. A place which is known among world-class chefs and the public, not for beef but for its exceptionally high quality and affordable quail meat. The addition of the sweet and slightly tart cherries adds a unique flavor to this winning dish. Beautiful with maple syrup and accompanied by a goats’ cheese polenta.
3. Portuguese Quail
Recipe via portugueserecipes.ca
Portuguese quail with predominantly smoked paprika and cumin – what a winning dish. The bird is rubbed with all the mixed herbs and spices then simply roasted in the oven. Quick and easy for those without the time on their hands but yet who wish to make an excellent dish at the end of their busy day.
4. Hot Fried Quail
Recipe via texquail.com
Bringing you a little Mexican twist as who doesn’t enjoy a good Jalapeno kick? This recipe feels like fancy, spicy, sweet chili hot chicken wings but trusts us, with so much more satisfaction in the mouth. Perfect for dinner dates or a party with your friends showing off that chicken isn’t the only thing one can cook and enjoy! Garnish with freshly cut jalapenos peppers, a dash of salt, and get stuck in. Great fun for children too, just without the chili element!
5. Asian Grilled Quail
Recipe via myrecipes.com
Are you the type who enjoys big bold flavors? A lover of Asian food? This is definitely your thing. Spicy garlic sauce, hoisin sauce, honey for the glazing aspect, and ginger make this one of our top favorites. This recipe is great fun and rather easy to obtain as most ingredients are mixed in a big bowl altogether to thereafter rub the quail well enough for flavors to really penetrate through. If you can, marinate for a couple of hours before cooking.
6. Braised Quail on Fennel and Carrot Salad Nest
Recipe via hippressurecooking.com
Something very different here which really does tick all the boxes. Quail braised in pancetta then served on a nest of steamed vegetables, shallots, and spumante. A welcomed difference from traditionally roasting the bird is to cook it in a pressure cooker to really keep all that beautiful moisture inside making the meat nice and juicy. This dish does require some skills, but if you fancy yourself a bit of a TV chef, then definitely give it a go. Superb flavors when well executed.
7. BBQ Quail Skewers Wrapped in Pancetta
Recipe via myfoodbook.com.au
Ever been to Australia and eaten BBQ ribs? Brilliant, weren’t they? However, you’ll find here something a little different – BBQ quail skewers wrapped in pancetta with sage. And true to the roots with a no-nonsense approach, this is best enjoyed as a BBQ style within the outdoors whether down under or not, with an ice-cold beer. You’ll amaze your friends and get them to talk for years to come. Quick and easy to do. A perfect icebreaker.
8. Pan Cooked Vietnamese Quail
Recipe via cooking.nytimes.com
Vietnamese food…ever wondered the street of Vietnam and stopped by one of those tiny little kiosks by the street at random? Well, this is kind of it. Surprisingly easy to make however some ingredients you might not have handy within the comfort of your home so a short trip to the nearest Asian market would be in order. The main ingredients being Soya sauce, ginger, and Thai basil leaves. A very chefy dish to make and serve to your guests. The quail’s subtle flavors are perfect for the margination.
9. Grilled Honey-Lacquered Quail
Recipe via grillocracy.com
Created by one of the Top Chefs rocking in the Atlanta restaurant scene is this Honey Lacquered Quail Recipe. The honey and garlic confit will give you a smell like toasted rice in your kitchen, and when the flowers of the honey will start developing the aromas you can find yourself in blooming fields. Glazing the grilled quails with this mixture is a revolutionary flavor discovery.
10. Roasted Quails With Cherry and Shiraz Wine Sauce
Recipe via ricardocuisine.com
Wine lovers this is right down your street. In this recipe, it will be highly recommended to use Shiraz, Australian, or South African. Bags of flavor without heavy tannins. And yes, the wine quality does matter so beware. You have a beautiful bird that merits beautiful wine and ingredients. Half of the cooking lies within their quality. Adding honey adds to the dish being bittersweet with a lovely glaze finish. Quick enough to make, plate, and serve. Naturally, serve alongside a nice Shiraz! Really reduce down your sauce so it sticks to the back of the spoon.
