Roasted quail with roasting tin gravy

Ingredients

For the quails

• 8 quails
• Zest of 1 orange
• 50ml red wine vinegar
• 15 sprigs of thyme
• 50ml olive oil
• 100ml white wine, amontillado sherry or vermouth

For the gravy

• 120ml white wine, amontillado sherry, or vermouth
• 1 tbsp plain flour
• 300ml chicken stock
• A knob of butter (optional)

Method

Pat dry and season the quail. Mix together the orange zest and red wine vinegar. Pour over the quail, scatter over the thyme sprigs, cover, and set aside to rest for a few hours or overnight. Put into the fridge if leaving overnight but be sure to return the birds to room temperature before roasting.

Preheat the oven to 200C. Heat the oil in a roasting tin over a high heat and quickly sear the quails until nicely browned all over. Sit the birds in the tin, pour over the wine or sherry, crumble over salt flakes and roast for 15-20 mins, depending how pink or not you want the meat. Lift the quails and thyme sprigs out of the tin and set aside to rest, covered.

To make the gravy, put the roasting tin over a medium heat, pour in the wine or alternative, let it bubble and then whisk in the flour. As you whisk, incorporate all the sticky bits on the base of the tin. Let the wine simmer for 3 mins to reduce, then add the stock and simmer for approx 5 mins to reduce. Taste and season as needed. Whisk in the knob of butter if you want a slightly richer gravy.

Serve the quails with the gravy poured over.

Image: Kim Lightbody