5.0 from 12 votes
Roast Sharp-Tailed Grouse
Not that this recipe works with all dark-meat grouse, from ptarmigan to prairie chickens, spruce grouse to sage grouse. I also include a rose hip glaze for the grouse here you can use if you'd like. Most grouse love to eat rose hips, so it's a natural. You could use any jelly made from a small berry; I'd recommend currants as an alternative. You can skip the glaze if you want. Serve with roasted vegetables and a nice light red wine.
Prep Time
45 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 610 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 2 sharp-tailed or spruce grouse, hen sage grouse or prairie chickens, plucked
- salt
- 2 to 3 pounds assorted root vegetables
- 2 sprigs of sage and 2 sprigs of rosemary (optional)
- 5 tablespoons butter or oil
OPTIONAL ROSEHIP GLAZE
- 4 tablespoons rose hip syrup or jelly
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Salt the grouse well and set out at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Cut the root vegetables into chunks, coat with oil or butter and salt well. Let these roast while the birds come to room temperature.
- If you're making the rose hip glaze, boil all the ingredients for it in a small pot until it thickens, about 5 minutes. Keep warm.
- Put the herbs inside the birds’ cavities. Either smear soft butter over the grouse or coat with oil.
- Take the roasting pan out and nestle the grouse, breast side up, among the roasting root vegetables. Roast hen sage grouse, prairie chickens or sharp-tailed grouse in the oven for 18 to 20 minutes, spruce grouse 15 minutes, ptarmigan for 10 minutes. Remove the roasting pan from the oven.
- Set the oven to 500°F, or as hot as it will go. Baste the birds with a little more butter or fat. When the oven hits temperature, return the grouse to the oven and roast until the breast meat hits about 140°F at the thickest part, near the wishbone. This should take anywhere from 5 minutes for ptarmigan to 15 minutes for a big prairie chicken or sage hen.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
610kcal
(31%)
Carbohydrates
28g
(9%)
Protein
65g
(130%)
Fat
25g
(38%)
Saturated Fat
9g
(45%)
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
38mg
(13%)
Sodium
402mg
(17%)
Potassium
1741mg
(50%)
Fiber
10g
(40%)
Sugar
11g
(22%)
Vitamin A
39020IU
(780%)
Vitamin C
76mg
(84%)
Calcium
165mg
(17%)
Iron
16mg
(89%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 610
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 610kcal | 31% |
| Carbohydrates | 28g | 9% |
| Protein | 65g | 130% |
| Fat | 25g | 38% |
| Saturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 38mg | 13% |
| Sodium | 402mg | 17% |
| Potassium | 1741mg | 37% |
| Fiber | 10g | 40% |
| Sugar | 11g | 22% |
| Vitamin A | 39020IU | 780% |
| Vitamin C | 76mg | 84% |
| Calcium | 165mg | 17% |
| Iron | 16mg | 89% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.