Poached Pheasant With Savoy Cabbage Butternut Squash And Black Truffles Recipes

SQUASH-BLACK BEAN CHILI

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and bell peppers, season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Add the chile powders, cumin, coriander, oregano and tomato paste. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables are coated in the spice mixture, about 2 minutes, adding a splash of water if the mixture is dry.
• Add 2 cups water, the tomatoes, beans, bay leaves and 1 teaspoon salt to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and stir in the squash and rutabaga. Partially cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the chili is slightly thickened, 30 to 40 minutes. (Add up to 1/2 cup water if the chili gets too thick.) Remove the bay leaves and season with salt. Serve with assorted toppings and cornbread.

SQUASH & CABBAGE SABZI

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the nigella seeds. When they start popping, add the ginger and garlic, and cook for 1 min. Add the squash, cabbage, spices and 1 tsp salt, then mix everything together well with a splash of water, covering the pan with a lid. Leave to steam for 7-8 mins over a low heat.
• After this time, lift the lid to check if the squash is cooked. If not, replace the lid quickly and leave to cook a little longer. Add the lime juice and check for seasoning before serving with dhal, chutney and rice or roti, if you like.

PHEASANT AND CABBAGE CHOWDER

Steps:

• With a cleaver, heavy chef's knife, or kitchen shears, split the pheasant in half, then cut the thighs and legs from the breasts. Place the 4 pieces of pheasant in a 6 to 8-quart stockpot and cover with the water. Bring to a boil, skimming off the white foam as it rises to the surface. (Using a ladle and a circular motion, push the foam from the center to the side of the pot, where it is easy to remove). Lower the heat so the broth is at a slow simmer.
• Meanwhile, remove the leaves from 3 springs of thyme, reserving the stems, chop, and reserve (you should have 1 teaspoon). Add the thyme stems and the remaining thyme sprig to the broth. Also add the coarsely chopped onion and carrot, the celery, garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns, and cloves, along with the reserved bacon rind, to the pot. Season lightly with salt, partially cover, and simmer slowly for 2 hours.
• Remove the broth from the heat. With tongs, transfer the pheasant pieces to a plate. When they are cool enough to handle, pull the meat off the bones, discarding the bones, and tear the meat into bite-sized pieces. Or cut the meat with a knife into rectangular strips that are approximately 1/2 by 1-inch. (If you used whole pheasant, you will have about 1 pound of meat). Cover and refrigerate until needed. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh strainer; you should have about 8 cups. If you are not making the chowder right away, let the broth cool a bit, then refrigerate; cover the broth after it has chilled completely. (The broth and meat can be prepared a day in advance if you like)
• Heat a 4 to 6-quart heavy pot over low heat and add the bacon. Once it has rendered a few tablespoons of fat, increase the heat to medium and cook until the bacon is crisp and golden brown. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the fat, leaving the bacon in the pot.
• Add the butter, the diced onion, the sliced carrot, the reserved thyme leaves, and the caraway seeds and saute, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until the onion is softened but not browned.
• Add the potatoes and the reserved pheasant broth, bring to a simmer, and simmer over medium heat for about 8 minutes, until the potatoes are cooked through but still firm. Add the cabbage and simmer for 5 minutes more, until it just begins to soften (it will continue to cook after the chowder is removed from the stove).
• Remove the chowder from the heat, stir in the pheasant meat, and season to taste with salt and black pepper. If you are not serving the chowder within the hour, let it cool a bit, then refrigerate; cover the chowder after it has chilled completely. Otherwise, let it sit at room temperature for up to 1 hour, allowing the flavors to meld.
• When ready to serve, reheat the chowder over low heat; don't let it boil. Use a slotted spoon to mound the pheasant, cabbage, onions, and potatoes in the center of large soup plates or shallow bowls, and ladle the clear broth around. Sprinkle each serving with a generous spoonful of chopped parsley.

CRISPY GARLIC CHOY SUM WITH BLACK TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a hot wok, coat with canola oil and brown the garlic. Add the choy sum and season. Add chicken stock and cook for only 3 minutes. Plate up and cover with truffles. The steam of the dish will heat the truffles to release its oil and flavor. If using the shiitakes, add them after the garlic, before adding the choy sum. Garnish with truffle oil.

ROAST PHEASANT WITH CABBAGE AND BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Brown the pheasant on all sides in the olive oil in a large, heavy casserole. Season with salt and pepper and roast breast down for 15 minutes, then turn and cook 15 more minutes breast side up.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Turn the cabbage upside down and remove the hard core. Cut the cabbage into slivers and blanch (cook for one minute). Remove and drain well.
• Saute the bacon in its own fat in a heavy skillet. Drain the bacon on paper towels.
• Remove the pheasant from the casserole and pour off excess fat. Add the rosemary, wine and stock and bring to a boil. Off heat, stir in the cabbage and the bacon. Put the pheasant on top, cover and cook for 20 minutes in the oven.

BOURBON ROASTED PHEASANT WITH BRAISED CABBAGE

Steps:

• In a large, deep casserole, heat the butter and 3 tablespoons of the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. When the butter foams, add the chopped onions and saute until they are lightly colored, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add the cabbage and cook until it begins to color, about 10 minutes. Cover, leaving the lid askew, and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is medium-brown. Remove from the heat, season with salt and pepper and add the juniper berries. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Wash the pheasant under cold water and dry well. Season the cavity with salt and pepper. Brush the inside of the bird with the mustard. Stud the whole onion with the cloves and place it inside the cavity. Tie the legs together and turn the wing tips under. Lightly dredge the bird in flour.
• In a heavy skillet, heat the remaining oil over medium-high heat. Add the pheasant and brown lightly on all sides, about 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the pheasant, breast side up, to the casserole dish with the cabbage mixture. Pack the cabbage mixture around and over the bird. Cover the casserole and place in the middle of the oven. Cook for 35 to 45 minutes, basting several times with the pan juices, until the leg moves easily in its socket and the juices run clear. Brush the cabbage off the top of the pheasant and bake uncovered for 10 minutes longer.
• Remove the dish from the oven. Transfer the bird to a warm platter, untie the legs and discard the whole onion. Drain any cooking juices back into the casserole dish. Place it on the stove over high heat and carefully pour in the bourbon. Heat the liquid and stir for 2 to 3 minutes. Turn the heat down to medium, stir in the cream and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Cut up the pheasant and serve it on a bed of the cabbage mixture. Top with chopped parsley, if desired.