Roast Quail with Apples and Pecans

• 2 firm tart apples, such as Fuji, Braeburn, or Granny Smith
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 carrot, peeled and diced
• 1 celery stalk, diced
• 2 shallots, diced
• 1 cup crumbled corn bread
• 1/4 cup chicken broth or canned low-sodium broth
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 thyme sprigs, leaves removed
• 1/2 cup pecans, lightly toasted, half roughly chopped
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 semi-boneless quail (see Headnote), wing tips trimmed, rinsed and patted dry
• 1 tablespoon canola or olive oil
• 2 cups mixed lettuce, such as oak leaf, lolla rosa, arugula, and/or mizuna, trimmed, washed, and dried
• 1/4 cup Balsamic Vinaigrette

1. Preheat the oven to 450F.
2. Quarter and core the apples.
3. Dice half of them and set aside.
4. Thinly slice the remainder lengthwise and set aside.
5. In a medium saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
6. Add the carrot, celery, shallots, and diced apples and saute until softened, about 5 minutes.
7. Transfer to a bowl and add the crumbled corn bread, then add the chicken broth, melted butter, thyme, and chopped pecans and toss thoroughly with your hands to combine.
8. Season with salt and pepper.
9. Sprinkle the cavity of each quail with salt and pepper, then stuff a little of the corn bread mixture inside.
10. Season the outside of the quail with salt and pepper and tie the legs together with kitchen twine.
11. Heat the oil over high heat in a heavy ovenproof saute pan just large enough to hold the quail without touching each other.
12. Add the quail and sear, turning occasionally, until golden, 4 to 6 minutes.
13. Transfer the pan to the oven and roast the quail, for 6 to 9 minutes; the breast meat should still be a rosy color.
14. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, toss the lettuce with the remaining apples and pecans and just enough of the vinaigrette to coat.
15. Remove the string from the quail.
16. Arrange the salad on serving plates and place the quail alongside.
17. Drizzle a little more vinaigrette over each quail and serve.

tart apples, olive oil, carrot, celery stalk, shallots, corn bread, chicken broth, unsalted butter, thyme, pecans, kosher salt, semiboneless quail, olive oil, mixed lettuce, vinaigrette

Taken from www.cookstr.com/recipes/roast-quail-with-apples-and-pecans (may not work)