Pasta Brasata con le Quaglie di San Giovanni da Fiore

• 4 farm-raised quail, cleaned, their livers reserved
• 6 juniper berries
• 6 whole white peppercorns
• 3 whole cloves
• 1 fat clove garlic, peeled
• 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt, plus additional as needed for the pasta
• 4 thin slices pancetta
• 8 large leaves sage
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 ounce salt pork, minced
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 2 cups dry white wine
• 2 tablespoons good white wine vinegar
• 12 ounces short tubular pasta, such as ziti, penne, rigatoni

1. Rinse the quail in cool water and dry them, inside and out, with absorbent paper towels.
2. In a mortar with a pestle, grind to a paste the reserved livers, the juniper berries, the peppercorns, the cloves, the garlic, and 1 teaspoon of coarse sea salt.
3. Spoon a bit of the aromatic paste into the cavity of each quail.
4. Wrap each quail in a slice of pancetta, securing it with a toothpick and slipping two leaves of sage between its breast and the pancetta.
5. In a large terra-cotta or enameled cast-iron casserole over a lively flame, heat the olive oil and saute the salt pork.
6. Place the quail in the casserole and brown them on all sides.
7. Lower the flame, sprinkle on the fine sea salt, add the wine and the vinegar, bringing the quail and its liquids to a gentle simmer.
8. Cover the casserole tightly and braise the quail for 12 minutes.
9. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees.
10. Cook the pasta in abundant boiling, sea-salted water for 4 minutes.
11. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
12. After the quail have cooked for 12 minutes, add the pasta to the casserole, stirring it about in the braising juices and repositioning the quail so that they nestle in the pasta.
13. The pasta and the braising liquors will protect the scant flesh of the frail little birds while the casserole roasts, uncovered, for 8 to 10 minutes.
14. This will permit the pasta to finish cooking and to absorb the braising juices, for the quail to char and crisp prettily while they complete their roasting.
15. Carry the casserole to table, serving the pasta and a quail to each one.

livers reserved, berries, cloves, clove garlic, salt, thin slices pancetta, sage, extravirgin olive oil, salt pork, salt, white wine, white wine vinegar, pasta

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/pasta-brasata-con-le-quaglie-di-san-giovanni-da-fiore-391201 (may not work)