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Roast Pigeon with Root Vegetables

Pigeons are a smallish, dark meat bird with very little fat. Closest substitution would be store-bought squab, which is to pigeon what veal is to beef. You could also use ptarmigan or sharp-tailed grouse. You'll only need one per person, and up the roasting time to 12 to 14 minutes. As for the vegetables, go for it. Use whatever you want. The more the better, and the crazier the better. I served this with salsify, parsley root, carrots, Jerusalem artichokes and golden beets. Have it it.

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 30 mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 717 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: British

Ingredients

  • 2 to 4 pigeons, plucked and dressed
  • 1/4 cup melted butter or olive oil
  • salt and black pepper
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 4 to 6 Jerusalem artichokes, cut into chunks
  • 2 parsnips, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 2 to 4 salsify roots, scrubbed and cut into 2-inch lengths (optional)
  • 1 or 2 roots of Hamburg or root parsley, cut into chunks (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • Beer vinegar or malt vinegar, for garnish

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Put all the chunked-up vegetables in a small roasting pan and coat with about half of the melted butter. Salt them well and pop them in the oven to roast. Take the pigeons out of the fridge when the veggies go into the oven. Let the pigeons come to room temperature for 30 minutes.
  2. Stir the root vegetables, which should be starting to get brown. Paint the pigeons with more melted butter and salt them well. Pour the remaining melted butter into a small pan and get it hot. Sear the sides of the pigeons in the hot butter. You want to get the legs and wings halfway cooked before the birds go into the oven. This should take about 6 to 10 minutes. Don't sear the breast meat.
  3. Check the vegetables. They should be pretty close to being done. If they are, remove them from the oven, put in a bowl and cover with foil. Turn the oven up to 475°F, or even 500°F if it will go that high. Wipe out the roasting pan. Let the pigeons rest for the 10 minutes or so this will take. When the oven is ready, put the pigeons into the roasting pan, breast side up. Roast for 10 minutes.
  4. Remove the pigeons from the oven and set on a cutting board. Turn off the oven, pour the vegetables back into the roasting pan, toss with the chopped parsley and set into the oven to re-warm and cook a bit further. Let the pigeons rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve them surrounded by the vegetables, which you can season with a little vinegar if you want.

Notes

  • What to drink? Clearly a medium-bodied red is your best bet. Pinot noir, Garnacha, Gamay, Merlot, you get the picture. As for beer, pale ale is a good choice, as would be a red ale, Märzen, blonde bock, or brown ale.

Nutrition Information

Calories 717kcal (36%) Carbohydrates 39g (13%) Protein 43g (86%) Fat 43g (66%) Saturated Fat 16g (80%) Cholesterol 258mg (86%) Sodium 274mg (11%) Potassium 1485mg (42%) Fiber 7g (28%) Sugar 17g (34%) Vitamin A 5971IU (119%) Vitamin C 25mg (28%) Calcium 88mg (9%) Iron 7mg (39%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 717

% Daily Value*

Calories 717kcal 36%
Carbohydrates 39g 13%
Protein 43g 86%
Fat 43g 66%
Saturated Fat 16g 80%
Cholesterol 258mg 86%
Sodium 274mg 11%
Potassium 1485mg 32%
Fiber 7g 28%
Sugar 17g 34%
Vitamin A 5971IU 119%
Vitamin C 25mg 28%
Calcium 88mg 9%
Iron 7mg 39%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.