Ancho Chile Honey Basted Quail Recipes

Steps:

• In a plastic zipper bag, combine the olive oil, 1-1/2 ounces ancho chile powder, and garlic with the quail and refrigerate overnight.
• To make the sauce: saute the onion in the vegetable oil in a medium saucepan until onion is transparent and soft but do not brown.
• Add the ancho chile powder, and pinches of cinnamon and cloves and stir together for a minute or two; then add the chicken broth and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and add honey, stirring over low heat until dissolved.
• Stir in the cornstarch dissolved in water and whisk sauce until thickened.
• Season with salt to taste.
• To prepare the quail: Remove quail from marinade.
• On a very hot grill or skillet, cook quail skin side down for about 5 minutes; flip over and cook for another 4 or 5 minutes or until medium-rare (some pink is fine).
• Serve with ancho-honey sauce drizzled over.

Steps:

• Soak ancho chile in 1 cup of hot water for 30 minutes.
• Preheat grill to medium-high.
• Place ancho chile and soaking water, garlic, honey, and salt in a blender. Cover and puree until smooth.
• Place quail, breast side down, on preheated grill for 3 to 4 minutes or until skin is browned. Turn quail over and baste generously with pureed sauce. Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes.
• Place quail on a cooler part of grill until finished cooking. Turn quail and baste after 1 minute, then turn over and baste again. The quail is finished when its juices run clear.

Steps:

• For the marinade: In a glass bowl mix the olive oil, garlic, and ancho chile powder. Add the quail, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight, if possible.
• For the sauce: Stem, seed and devein the chiles. Place them, 1 or 2 at a time, in a dry cast-iron skillet that has been heated to medium-hot. Cook over medium-high heat, turning several times, until toasted, 40 to 60 seconds. Transfer to a bowl and cover with boiling water; soak 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook gently until soft; 5 to 6 minutes. Set aside.
• Strain chiles, reserving the liquid. Transfer chiles to a blender and add about 1 cup of the reserved liquid. Puree until smooth, then push the mixture through a medium mesh strainer into a saucepan with the onion. Stir in honey, salt, and seasonings. Heat to boil, reduce heat, and simmer gently 8 minutes.
• On a very hot grill or cast-iron skillet, set the quail skin-side down, for about 4 minutes. Flip the quail and cook on the other side for about 2 minutes or until cooked to medium-rare.
• Put 3 ounces of sauce on a dinner plate and put the quail on top.