Roast Squab Breast with Two-Grain Porridge
- Three 1-pound squabs
- 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 fennel bulbhalved, cored and chopped
- 1/4 cup dry red wine
- 1 Bosc pearpeeled, halved, cored and coarsely chopped
- 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
- 1 thyme sprig
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cup heavy cream
- Salt
- 4 cups boiling water
- 1/2 cup bulgur
- 3/4 cup farro
- Freshly ground pepper
- Preheat the oven to 400.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the breasts off the squabs and transfer to a plate, cover with plastic and refrigerate.
- In a small roasting pan, roast the carcasses for about 30 minutes, until golden.
- Turn off the oven.
- In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of the grapeseed oil.
- Add the chopped onion and fennel and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until tender and lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
- Add the wine and cook until evaporated.
- Add the pear, peppercorns, thyme sprig, bay leaf and roast squab carcasses, along with any fat in the pan.
- Add 8 cups of room-temperature water and bring to a boil.
- Simmer over moderate heat, skimming, until the stock has reduced by half, about 1 1/2 hours.
- Strain the stock into a large saucepan and simmer over moderate heat until it is reduced to 1 cup, about 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, simmer the cream until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 15 minutes.
- Whisk the cream into the reduced stock and season with salt; keep warm.
- In a large heatproof bowl, pour the boiling water over the bulgur; cover and let stand until tender, about 30 minutes.
- In a large saucepan of salted boiling water, cook the farro until al dente, about 30 minutes.
- Drain the farro and bulgur, shaking out excess water.
- Add the farro and bulgur to the cream-stock mixture and cook over moderate heat until thick and porridge-like, about 5 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper and keep warm.
- Reheat the oven to 400.
- Season the squab breasts with salt and pepper.
- In a large ovenproof skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of grapeseed oil until shimmering.
- Add the breasts, skin side down, and cook over high heat until lightly browned, about 2 minutes.
- Flip the breasts and roast in the oven for about 4 minutes for medium meat.
- Transfer the breasts to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Slice the breasts and serve with the two-grain porridge.
squabs, grapeseed oil, onion, bulbhalved, red wine, whole black peppercorns, thyme, bay leaf, heavy cream, salt, boiling water, bulgur, farro, freshly ground pepper
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/roast-squab-breast-two-grain-porridge (may not work)