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Grilled Quail Salad with Creamy Garlic Vinaigrette

4.5

(8)

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 4 as a first course or light main course

Ingredients

For vinaigrette

1 small garlic clove
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon Sherry vinegar
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons corn or canola oil
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
freshly ground black pepper
1 red bell pepper
1 head Boston lettuce
1 bunch watercress
4 ounces white mushrooms (about 6 medium)
4 semiboneless jumbo quail (6 to 8 ounces each)
corn or canola oil for rubbing on quail
freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon leaves

Preparation

  1. Make vinaigrette:

    Step 1

    Mince garlic and in a small bowl stir together with mustard, vinegar, and cream. Add oils in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified, and season with pepper and salt.

  2. Step 2

    Roast and peel bell pepper . Cut pepper into 1/4-inch dice. Separate lettuce leaves from head, leaving them whole, and discard coarse stems from watercress. Cut mushrooms into 1/4-inch-thick slices.

    Step 3

    Prepare grill.

    Step 4

    Halve each quail lengthwise through breast and pat dry. Rub quail lightly all over with oil and season with pepper and salt. Grill quail on a lightly oiled rack set 5 to 6 inches over glowing coals 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until skin is well browned but meat is still pink. (Alternatively, grill quail in a hot well-seasoned ridged grill pan over moderately high heat.)

    Step 5

    In a large bowl toss watercress and mushrooms with just enough vinaigrette to coat lightly. Arrange lettuce on each of 4 large plates and top with watercress mixture and bell pepper. Arrange quail on top of salad and sprinkle with tarragon. Serve remaining vinaigrette on the side.

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