Traditional roast young grouse, redcurrant jelly, bread sauce & game chips
Per person
1x young grouse, breasts covered with bacon and tied
¼ bunch of watercress
Game chips (thinly sliced potatoes, fried until crisp)
10g clarified butter
Bread sauce (see below)
Redcurrant jelly
Toasted breadcrumbs
Bread sauce
1 small onion
4 cloves
1 bay leaf
250ml milk
1 tbsp butter
110g white bread, crusts removed, cut into small cubes
To cook the grouse:
- Place some of the butter inside the grouse, season well.
- Gently brown the grouse on both side and then on the breast until golden brown.
- Brush with butter, stand on its back in the pan and roast for 10 – 12 mins (medium rare)
- When the bird is cooked, leave to rest on a cooling tray, pour over the roasting juices from the pan.
- It’s very important to rest the grouse before serving for approx. 8 minutes
To make the bread sauce:
- Stud the onion with the cloves.
- Place it in a saucepan with the milk and bay leaf, bring to a simmer over a low heat. Simmer for 10 minutes to allow all the flavours infuse in the milk.
- Strain through a sieve into a clean pan, discard the onion and bay. Stir in the butter. Whisk in the bread until it forms a smooth sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
To serve:
- Remove string from the bird, place in the centre of the plate and garnish with the watercress and game chips
- Serve with the bread sauce, redcurrant jelly and breadcrumbs neatly on the side
Andy Rose, executive chef, Boisdale restaurants
Whole baked grouse, fine herb and bread stuffing, apple and quince jelly
This dish will be available from the first week of September and will be available on Sundays only as a special, for two to share, for £30.
Serves 2 people
2 x grouse (Ask the butcher to clean it)
For the Stuffing
90 g butter
2 onions, peeled and finely chopped
50 g parsley, finely chopped
20 g sage or thyme, finely chopped (optional)
200 g fresh white breadcrumbs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1.Gently cook the onions in the butter until soft. Add the herbs and breadcrumbs, mix well and season to taste.
2. Place the stuffing into the cavity of the bird and place back into the fridge for 30 mins before cooking.
For the Apple and Quince Jelly
500ml Bramley apple juice
100g Quince paste
4 Leaves of gelatine
Bring 100ml apple juice to the boil and dissolve the quince paste in it. Soak the gelatine in cold water for a few minutes until soft, squeeze out the excess water and stir into the warm apple juice until dissolved. Add to the rest of the apple juice and store in an air tight container.
To finish the dish:
1.Place the bird into a hot pan and brown on all sides.
2. Place into the oven at 180c for 12-15 mins.
3. Once cooked allow to rest for 10 mins before carving.
4. Serve with some roasted potatoes and greens and a healthy spoonful of the jelly.