Braised Woodcock Recipes

BRAISED WOODCOCK

Steps:

• Sprinkle woodcocks inside and out with salt and pepper.
• Wrap weach with a slice of bacon and fasten with string or a wooden pick.
• Place woodcocks in broiler pan about 6 inches from heat.
• Broil 8 to 10 minutes on each side, or until tender, basting frequently with butter.
• Remove string or wooden pick.
• Sprinkle with parsley.
• Serve on buttered toast.

BURNETTS WOODCOCK

Steps:

• First make the potatoes, mash them and let them dry well. Beat the egg whites very stiffly but not dry. Mix the egg yolk and capers and cream into the mash and fold in the egg whites. Form small cakes and fry in the butter until brown.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Spread each woodcock generously with butter and cover with a bacon rasher. Roast in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on how you like them, more if you must.
• For the sauce, saute the livers in butter until just cooked, mash and press them through a fine sieve. Put the puree in a pan, thin with white wine and stock, add juniper berries, seasoning and lemon juice, and simmer for a few minutes.
• Place the cooked woodcock on the potato cakes and serve with the sauce.

CLASSIC BRAISED BRISKET

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Pat the brisket dry and sprinkle liberally on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat a roasting pan over 2 burners on medium-high heat. Add the oil and heat until hot. Sear the meat, fat-side down, until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Carefully flip and sear on the second side until golden brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Remove the brisket to a platter or baking sheet. Remove all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the pan.
• Add the sweet onions to the pan and cook, scraping the bottom, until just starting to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the wine and cook until reduced by about a third, about 4 minutes. Add the chicken broth, garlic cloves and thyme. Return the brisket and any juices to the pan, cover tightly with foil, transfer to the oven and cook for 3 hours.
• After 3 hours, check to make sure there is still liquid in the pan. If not, add another cup of chicken broth. Re-cover tightly with the foil and cook for another 1 1/2 hours.
• Arrange the pearl onions and leeks around the meat, re-cover with the foil and cook until the meat is very tender, 1 to 1 1/2 more hours. Carefully remove the meat to a platter.
• Stir the honey into the roasting pan, place the pan over 2 burners on medium heat and reduce the liquid by about a third, 6 to 10 minutes. Discard the thyme sprigs. Spoon off any oil from the sauce. Season with salt and pepper. At this point you can serve the brisket or refrigerate overnight (see below).
• Toss the parsley, mint, scallions and shallots with the vinegar in a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• Spoon some of the sauce with the sweet onions, leeks and pearl onions onto a large platter. Cut the brisket across the grain into thin slices and lay them on top of the sauce. Spoon over more of the sauce and mixed onions and top with the parsley mixture. Serve the remaining sauce and onions on the side
• Make Ahead: You can refrigerating the brisket overnight before serving. Remove the sweet onions, pearl onions and leeks from the sauce and refrigerate separately. The fat will harden as the brisket and sauce chill, making it easy to spoon out. To serve, remove the brisket to a cutting board while cold. Thinly slice and return to the sauce along with the mixed onions. Cover and reheat in a 325 degree F-oven for about 45 minutes.

SCOTCH WOODCOCK

Steps:

• Prepare the toast. Spread one-half teaspoon anchovy paste on one side of each piece of toast.
• Put the eggs in a mixing bowl, and add the cream, salt and pepper. Beat thoroughly.
• Heat the butter in a heavy saucepan and add the egg mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Take care not to overcook the eggs.
• Spoon an equal amount of the eggs onto each slice of toast. Garnish the top with two crossed, flat anchovy fillets. Garnish the center of each cross with a small sprig of parsley or watercress.

BRAISED DUCK

Steps:

• Salt and pepper duck generously on both sides. Place halves, skin side down, in large saute pan (preferably seasoned cast-iron or nonstick) or 2 medium saute pans. Wedge thyme and garlic under skin. Cover pan with lid or foil; place over low heat. Braise for 1 hour (duck should crackle and sizzle gently; skin should be golden and crisp; most fat should be rendered). Turn duck; cover pan. Braise for 1 more hour, until duck bottom is well browned and meat very tender.
• Remove duck to cutting board; cut halves in half. Reserve fat from pan. In clean saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons fat (if there is not enough, use canola oil) over medium-high heat. Place duck pieces skin side down, and saute for 3 to 5 minutes, just until skin is crisp and dark. Transfer to dish, and serve.