Braised Quail And Caramelized Shallots With Soft Polenta Recipes

CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a 12-inch ovenproof saute pan, add the shallots and sugar, and toss to coat. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the shallots start to brown. Add the vinegar, salt, and pepper and toss well.
• Place the saute pan in the oven and roast for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the shallots, until they are tender. Season to taste, sprinkle with parsley, and serve hot.

QUAILS WITH ROSEMARY ON SOFT POLENTA

Steps:

• To prepare the quails, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Place 1 sprig of rosemary in the cavity of each quail, cutting the sprigs as needed to fit. Wrap 2 pieces of pancetta around each quail and tie securely with string. Set aside.
• To prepare the polenta, combine the water and salt in a medium-size saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Whisking constantly, add the cornmeal to the pan very gradually, pouring it in a light, steady stream. Change from a whisk to a wooden spoon and reduce the heat so that the mixture is at a slow simmer. Stir constantly until the polenta thickens, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, when the polenta is almost done, place the quails in the oven and roast for 10 minutes. Remove the string. Divide the polenta among 4 plates and top each serving with 2 of the quails. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and serve immediately.

BRAISED QUAIL AND CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS WITH SOFT POLENTA

Steps:

• MAKE THE POLENTA You can either follow the instructions on the package or use these instructions: In a deep, heavy pan, bring the water, lightly salted, to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium. Beating continually with a whisk, add the polenta slowly and gradually. Stir constantly as you cook the polenta until it reaches the consistency of a creamy porridge, about 5 minutes. Stir in salt to taste and a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, then cover and set the polenta aside in a warm place until you are ready to serve. MAKE THE QUAIL Preheat the oven to 400F. Season the quail inside and out with salt and pepper, and place a bay leaf inside each one. Wrap each quail in a slice of pancetta, securing it with a toothpick. In a wide, ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil. Cook the quail until they are lightly browned with crisp skin, 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Sprinkle the wine over the quail. When the wine has evaporated, add the chicken stock and the shallots. Cover the pan with foil or an ovenproof lid and place it in the preheated oven. After 5 minutes, uncover, then cook for another 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven. Remove the quail and set them aside in a warm place. Skim the fat from the pan, then let the remaining juices simmer over low heat until they are reduced by half and the shallots are brown and burnished, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring up the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. To serve, divide the polenta among 4 wide soup bowls. Place a quail on top of each bed of polenta and spoon the shallots and sauce over the birds.

BRAISED LAMB SHANKS WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND SHALLOTS

Steps:

• For lamb shanks:.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in heavy large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add sliced onions and shallots and sauté until brown, about 20 minutes. Mix in 2 tablespoons chopped rosemary. Remove from heat.
• Sprinkle lamb shanks with salt and pepper; coat lamb with flour. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in heavy large skillet over high heat.
• Working in batches, add lamb shanks to skillet and cook until brown on both sides, about 10 minutes per batch. Using tongs, transfer lamb shanks to plate.
• Add 1 cup dry red wine to same skillet and bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits.
• Pour into Dutch oven with onion mixture. Add remaining 1 1/2 cups red wine, canned beef broth, tomato paste and 2 bay leaves to dutch oven. Bring to boil, stirring until tomato paste dissolves. Add lamb shanks, turning to coat with liquid.
• Bring mixture to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until lamb is almost tender, turning lamb shanks occasionally, about 1 1/2 hours. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.).
• Uncover Dutch oven and boil until liquid is reduced to sauce consistency, stirring and turning lamb shanks occasionally, about 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• For Mash:.
• Peel potatoes and cut into 2-inch pieces. Peel and halve rutabegas and thinly slice. Peel parsnips and cut into 1-inch pieces.
• Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Add potatoes, rutabagas and parsnips. Boil until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes. Drain well.
• Return vegetables to same pot. Mash until coarse puree forms. Mix in 3 tablespoons olive oil. Season vegetables to taste with salt and pepper. (Vegetable mash can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm over low heat, stirring frequently.) Transfer vegetables to bowl and serve.
• Spoon Potato and Root Vegetable Mash onto plates. Top vegetables with lamb shanks and sauce. Sprinkle lamb shanks with additional chopped fresh rosemary and serve.

CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Peel shallots and cut lengthwise into 1/8-inch slices.
• Heat oil in a small saute pan over medium heat. Add the butter and shallots. Sprinkle with sugar and add salt and pepper to taste.
• Cook shallots until they begin to brown evenly, then turn heat down to low and continue to cook until very soft, about 10 minutes. Serve at room temperature.

CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• In a 12 inch ovenproof skillet melt the butter.
• Add the shallots and sugar, tossing to coat.
• Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the shallots start to brown.
• Add the vinegar, salt and pepper and toss well.
• Place the skillet in the preheated oven and roast for 15-30 minutes, depending on the size of the shallots, until they are tender.
• Season to taste, sprinkle with parsley and serve.

CARAMELISED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large frying pan and cook shallots over a high heat for 5 mins. When they are golden, drain off and throw away the oil. Add the butter, bay and thyme and toss with seasoning. Cook for 5-8 mins, stirring so that the butter doesn't burn.
• Pour over the stock and cook until the shallots are tender and the sauce is reduced and sticky.

BRAISED LAMB SHANKS ON SOFT POLENTA WITH BAY LEAVES

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups hot water and mushrooms in small bowl. Let stand until mushrooms soften, about 30 minutes.
• Using vegetable peeler, remove peel (orange part only) from oranges in long strips. Squeeze juice from oranges; reserve peel and juice. Tie bay leaves, rosemary sprigs, and cloves in square of moistened cheesecloth.
• Heat 4 tablespoons olive oil in wide pot over medium-high heat. Add onions; sauté until golden, about 12 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer onions to small bowl. Add 2 tablespoons oil to pot. Sprinkle lamb with salt and pepper. Add 3 lamb shanks to pot. Sauté until brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer to plate. Repeat with remaining shanks. Return onions to pot. Using slotted spoon, add mushrooms, then mushroom soaking liquid, leaving any sediment in bowl. Add orange peel and juice, herb bundle, wine, and tomato paste. Boil 5 minutes, scraping up browned bits.
• Return lamb to pot, arranging in single layer. Add broth; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; simmer 30 minutes. Partially uncover pot. Simmer until lamb is tender, turning every 15 minutes, about 1 1/2 hours longer.
• Transfer lamb to bowl. Tilt pot and spoon fat off top of sauce. Boil until sauce is thick enough to coat spoon lightly and is reduced to 5 cups, about 35 minutes. Discard herb bundle and orange peel. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Return lamb to pot, spooning sauce over to coat. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Refrigerate lamb, uncovered, until cold, then cover and keep refrigerated. Rewarm over low heat before continuing.)
• Spoon polenta onto large platter. Arrange lamb atop polenta. Spoon sauce over lamb and serve.
• *Dried porcini mushrooms are available at Italian markets, specialty foods stores, and many supermarkets.