Sous Vide Pepper Sage Quail
- Rewinding the Kissimmee River - May 19, 2023
- Changing Grazing Behaviour Could Help Grassland Ecosystems - April 21, 2023
- Is Avian Influenza Infecting Mammals Cause for Concern? - March 17, 2023
My middle setter, Yuba, locked up on what I swear was her twentieth textbook point of the morning as we hunted busted singles and doubles. Her initial point locked some thirty valley quail in a creekside thicket, a single falling as the covey levitated in the January morning mist. We secured a few more as Yuba masterfully worked the cover. A morning not to be forgotten.
Field experiences like this boost meal preparation and enjoyment to another dimension, but game birds are notorious for easily drying when prepared and small birds like quail are easily overcooked. The Sous Vide enhances this basic grill recipe, preparing the quail while maintaining tenderness and succulence. The final step of searing on the grill provides the firmer finish and bite of freshly cracked pepper without the risk of overcooking or drying out. A fine compliment to a remarkable hunt with memories as smooth as a delicate red wine blend pairing.
Serving Size: 4
Time to make: 10 minute marinade, 3 hours sous vide, 2 minutes grill
Special Equipment: Sous Vide, Sous Vide Bags, Grill
Also works with: Other upland bird species and are delicious when prepared as presented here, particularly dove breast. Double the marinade and dry ingredients for larger birds and ensure proper sous vide temperature and bath duration.
Beer/Wine Pairing: Blonde Ale, Merlot, or Sauvignon Blanc
Listen to our Podcast
Apple Podcasts, Google, Spotify, Amazon Music
Like what we are creating? Buy us a coffee to say thanks!
Ingredients:
Marinade
4 quail
2 c Soy
1 c Worcestershire
½ c strawberry balsamic vinegar
1 c olive oil
3 cloves crushed garlic
½ tsp dry, crushed sage
Grill
1 tbs cracked black pepper
1 tbs kosher salt
¼ c retained marinade
1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Preparation:
Marinade
Mix all ingredients in a gallon zip-lock bag
Add whole, cleaned quail and marinate for 3 hours
Sous Vide
Program the sous vide to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) approximately 10 minutes ahead of time.
Remove quail from marinade (retain the marinade) and place in clean zip-lock or vacuum-sealed bags. Note: quail may need to be individually bagged to ensure they reach proper temperature throughout.
Place bags with quail in the sous vide bath for 3 hours.
Grill
Heat grill to 600 degrees F (315 degrees C) and bring retained marinade to a boil prior to removing quail from sous vide.
Remove quail from sous vide and sear 45 seconds per side on preheated grill.
Remove quail from grill and baste with heated, retained marinade.
Sprinkle freshly cracked black pepper, kosher salt and toasted sesame seeds on basted quail.
Serve over a bed of brown rice with broccoli, cauliflower, green beans and/or grilled squash.
A note on sourcing the cut or foraged ingredients
Two fresh crushed Mediterranean sage leaves are recommended over dried sage. Sage is simple to grow in a home herb garden and is perennial, meaning a single plant will produce for years and can yield more than enough to dry and maintain a healthy supply.
