Roasted Breast and Confit Leg of Spiced Anjou Squab

Marinated squab legs are confit in duck fat while breasts are spiced, roasted, and served with kale, ceps, and sauce.

Estimated Nutrition

Per Serving Total
Calories 1210.1 kcals 4840.4 kcals
Carbohydrates 10.7 grams 42.8 grams
Fat 108.9 grams 435.6 grams
Protein 36.3 grams 145.2 grams
Cook Time
120 mins
Produces
4 people
Allergies
Vegetarian
Vegan
Dairy Free
Gluten Free

Ingredients

BakingIngredients
1
pinch
Caster Sugar
for marinade
Dairy
50
g
Butter
for basting
50
g
Butter
for kale and ceps
Liquids
110
ml
Port
for sauce
150
ml
Chicken Stock
or veal stock
Meat
4
piece
NutsSeeds
2
clove
Garlic
peeled and sliced
8
piece
Black Peppercorns
crushed, for marinade
0.5
tsp
Thyme Leaves
for marinade
4
piece
Juniper Berries
plump, crushed
1
piece
Bay Leaf
fresh, shredded
1
tbsp
Coarse Sea Salt
for marinade
0.25
stick
Cinnamon
for ground spices
1
tbsp
Coriander Seeds
for ground spices
1
tbsp
Cloves
for ground spices
2
tbsp
Black Peppercorns
for ground spices
1
tbsp
Quatre Épices
ground spice blend
1
tbsp
Coarse Sea Salt
for spice mixture
1
sprig
Thyme
fresh, for sauce
OilsFats
4
tbsp
Groundnut Oil
for browning and frying
300
g
Duck Fat
melted
Vegetables
1
piece
Carrot
small, diced
1
piece
Shallot
chopped
1
stalk
Celery
chopped
150
g
Kale
shredded, tough stalks removed
150
g
Ceps
small mushroom

Steps

  • Separate the legs from the squab and set aside.
  • Remove the wishbone and backbone to leave the squab crown intact.
  • Combine all marinade ingredients except the duck fat.
  • Coat the squab legs in the marinade mixture within a shallow dish.
  • Marinate for 3 to 4 hours, then wash and dry the legs.
  • Poach legs in duck fat for 90 minutes until tender, then cool in fat.
  • Remove legs from the fat and extract the thighbones.
  • Toast whole spices in a pan until aromatic.
  • Grind toasted spices and mix with salt and quatre épices.
  • Preheat the oven to 200°C.
  • Rub the ground spice mixture onto the squab crowns.
  • Brown crowns in oil skin-side down, then roast for 12 to 14 minutes.
  • Add butter to the pan and baste the birds for one minute.
  • Rest the birds on a wire rack and season again with spices.
  • Sauté chopped vegetables and thyme in the roasting pan.
  • Deglaze with port, reduce to syrup, add stock, reduce by half, and strain.
  • Cook ceps until colored, then wilt the kale with butter and seasoning.
  • Fry squab legs skin-side down until the skin becomes crisp.
  • Serve squab breasts and legs over the kale and ceps with drizzled sauce.