Pheasant Pithiviers

Exquisite puff pastry pies filled with confit pheasant leg and pan-seared breast, served with a rich Madeira and port sauce.

Estimated Nutrition

Per Serving Total
Calories 980.1 kcals 7840.5 kcals
Carbohydrates 48.6 grams 388.4 grams
Fat 76.4 grams 610.8 grams
Protein 24.4 grams 195.2 grams
Cook Time
150 mins
Produces
8 people
Allergies
Vegetarian
Vegan
Dairy Free
Gluten Free

Ingredients

BakingIngredients
800
g
Puff Pastry
Ready-made all-butter
2
g
Arrowroot
Mixed with cold water
Dairy
2
unit
Egg
Free-range, beaten for wash
Fruits
3
tbsp
Prunes
Stones removed, finely sliced
Liquids
200
ml
200
ml
Meat
1
unit
Pheasant
Breasts and legs removed, carcass chopped and reserved
NutsSeeds
10
g
Sea Salt
Preferably fleur de sel
0.5
tbsp
0.5
clove
Garlic
Finely sliced
0.5
unit
Bay Leaf
Fresh, torn
2
sprig
Thyme
Fresh leaves only
1
unit
100
g
Chestnuts
Cooked and crumbled
3
tbsp
Walnuts
Finely chopped
OilsFats
600
g
Duck Fat
For confit
Vegetables
150
g
Onion
Chopped into 2cm pieces
120
g

Steps

  • Marinate pheasant legs with salt, pepper, garlic, thyme, bay, and juniper in the fridge for 6 hours.
  • Rinse the marinade off the legs and pat dry with a towel.
  • Heat 600g duck fat to 80-90°C and gently cook legs for 90 minutes until meltingly tender.
  • Season pheasant breasts with salt and pepper.
  • Fry breasts in 15ml duck fat for 10 minutes total until medium-rare, then cube.
  • Sauté onions, herbs, and juniper in the same pan until softened.
  • Add mushrooms and fry until moisture evaporates.
  • Mix chestnuts, berries, cubed breasts, and seasoning into the onion mixture.
  • Deglaze the pan with water and add to the filling.
  • Crisp the confit leg meat in a pan, flake off the bone, and stir into filling.
  • Roll pastry to 2mm thick and cut eight 10cm discs and eight 14cm discs.
  • Place 60g of filling onto each 10cm disc.
  • Brush edges with egg, seal with 14cm discs, and chill for 15 minutes.
  • Trim edges, brush with egg wash, score half-moon patterns, and chill.
  • Preheat oven to 200°C and heat a baking sheet.
  • Chop the pheasant carcass into 3cm pieces.
  • Brown carcass and juniper in duck fat, then remove.
  • Sauté remaining onions, celery, and mushrooms in the pan.
  • Add Madeira and port, reducing the volume by half.
  • Add 400ml cold water and simmer for 20 minutes.
  • Strain sauce, return to heat, and thicken with arrowroot.
  • Bake pithiviers for 15-20 minutes until golden.
  • Dry fry garnish fruits and nuts for 3 minutes.
  • Serve pithiviers with sauce poured inside and garnish scattered around.