Quail Bhuna

This is my special recipe for Quail Bhuna. It’s coated in a thick massala/sauce and I usually serve it up as a special treat at a dinner party.

Ingredients: (Serves 6)

1 packet of pre-packaged Quail. (Usually 6 in a pack)

2 onions, 4 gloves of garlic

Fresh coriander leaves

2-3 tablespoons of Cooking oil

Spices: 1 tsp turmeric, 1 tsp chilli powder, 1 heaped tsp cumin, 1 heaped tsp coriander, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp Patak’s Original Garam Massala Paste (found in all South Asian stores).

How to:

1. Wash and clean the quail taking care to remove any tiny feathers. Set aside to dry off.

2. Dice the onion and garlic finely and keep separate.

3. In a pan, heat up 2-3 tablespoons of oil. Add the garlic and fry until almost brown taking care not to burn the garlic.

4. Add the diced onion and fry until almost brown.

5. Lower the heat and add all spices as above including the salt and fry for 2-3 minutes on medium to high heat. Add 1 cup of hot water (preferably from the kettle) to make a smooth paste. Turn up to a medium heat and let cook for 10 minutes. As the massala/sauce starts to dry up, add more water (1/2 cup to 1 cup). Basically, you want the consistency of the massala to be a thick sauce, rich in colour.

6.  Turn the heat up high and add the quail. Stir in the massala really welll and cook until they brown all over. Add water as necessary if you start to see the massala drying up. Then lower the heat and let simmer with the lid on for 10-15 minutes until the meat is tender and fully cooked.

7. Add 1 level tsp of Patak’s Garam Massala and stir into the massala/sauce. Cook on low for a further 2-3 minutes.

8. Remove from heat and sprinkle a generous amount of fresh chopped coriander leaves all over.

Enjoy!

Recommendations: Serve with hot rice of your choice and a side salad.

Recipe by Sabina Huq