When cooking pheasants, tenderness is key. A properly cooked pheasant should have a moist, succulent texture that melts in your mouth. To achieve this, it is important to choose the right cooking method and to carefully regulate the temperature and cooking time. In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide to cooking tender pheasants, ensuring that you create a delicious and memorable meal every time. We will cover a variety of cooking techniques, from roasting and baking to braising and grilling, and provide tips on how to select the best pheasant, prepare it for cooking, and achieve the perfect level of doneness. So, whether you are a seasoned cook or a beginner, let us take you on a culinary journey and help you master the art of cooking tender and flavorful pheasants.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
25 BEST WAYS TO COOK PHEASANT
Switch up your meal routine with these easy pheasant recipes! From oven-roasted to stew to pot pie, you can make plenty of delicious pheasant dishes.
Provided by insanelygood
Categories Recipe Roundup
Number Of Ingredients 25
Steps:
- Select your favorite recipe.
- Organize all the required ingredients.
- Prep a pheasant recipe in 30 minutes or less!
Nutrition Facts :
EMERIL'S FAVORITE ROAST PHEASANT
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F and position the oven rack in the bottom third of the oven.
- Season the cavities and the outside of each pheasant liberally with salt and pepper. Divide the chopped onion and carrot equally among the cavities of the pheasants. Squeeze the juice from both halves of the orange and set aside. Cut 1 of the squeezed halves into 3 pieces, and tuck inside of the cavities along with the veggies. Insert 1sprig of thyme into the cavity of each pheasant.
- Arrange the pheasants in a large roasting pan, breast sides up. Lay 2 strips of bacon over the top of each pheasant, cutting the bacon into pieces if necessary to cover as much of the pheasant as possible. Roast for 15 minutes, then remove the bacon strips and continue roasting for approximately 30 to 40 minutes, or until the juices run clear. (It is important to not overcook the pheasants, as they are very lean birds.) Remove the pheasants from the oven and transfer to a serving platter, loosely tented, while you make the sauce.
- Using a spoon, carefully remove as much extra fat from the pan as possible. Place the roasting pan over high heat and, when hot, deglaze with the reserved orange juice and Madeira, using a wooden spoon to scrape any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. When the orange juice and Madeira have reduced by half, add the chicken stock and continue to cook until sauce has reduced enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 3 to 4 minutes. Swirl in the butter and remove from the heat. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
- Remove the back bone from each pheasant, then cut along the breast bone to divide the birds into two halves. Serve 1/2 pheasant per person, napped with some of the sauce and with some of the Wild Mushroom Bread Pudding.
- Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet over high heat. Add the onions and cook until golden brown and tender, 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms, 1/2 teaspoon of the garlic, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the Essence, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and 3/4 teaspoon of the pepper, and cook, stirring, until the mushrooms are tender and have given off their liquid, about 5 minutes. Add the beer and cook, stirring, to deglaze the pan and until the mixture is almost dry, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.
- In a large bowl, combine the eggs, cream, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons of Essence, remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and whisk well to combine. Add the mushroom mixture and cheeses and stir well. Add the bread cubes and let sit until the bread has absorbed the liquid, 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Butter a 9 by 13-inch baking dish with the butter. Add the bread crumbs, shaking to cover the bottom evenly. Pour the bread pudding mixture into the prepared pan and cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 1 hour and uncover. Continue baking until risen and firm in the center, and golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool slightly before serving.
- Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
- Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.
TENDER PHEASANTS
This recipe is very simple yet delicious. Pheasant is normally a dry bird but this recipe keeps it wonderfully moist. It almost falls right off the bone!
Provided by LYSS
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Pork
Time 5h20m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Place the pheasants into a large slow cooker. Wrap and drape the bacon over the birds, covering the pheasants as much as you can. Whisk the condensed soup, sour cream, water, chopped onion, onion soup mix, and mushrooms together in a mixing bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour over the pheasants.
- Cook on Low for 8 to 10 hours, or on High for 5 to 7 hours.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 256.1 calories, Carbohydrate 3.9 g, Cholesterol 69.2 mg, Fat 17.6 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 19.7 g, SaturatedFat 6.3 g, Sodium 467.5 mg, Sugar 0.7 g
BERGIE'S CROCK POT PHEASANT
This recipe produces a delicious, moist, tender bird. It is important that you marinate the bird for the full 24 hours.
Provided by Bergy
Categories Canadian
Time P1DT5h
Yield 2-4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Skin the pheasant and wash.
- Put pheasant in a large bowl with the salt and cover with cold water.
- Soak at least an hour.
- Then discard the brine solution.
- Cut pheasant into 4 pieces.
- Mix Marinade ingredients in a large zip lock bag (big enought to hold the pheasant pieces).
- Put pheasant pieces into the zip lock bag and put into the fridge.
- Marinate for 24 hours.
- Turn the bag every time you open the fridge.
- Discard the marinade.
- Put a 1/2 cup of water in your crockpot with the pheasant pieces.
- You may want to add a little more water while cooking if it goes dry (A nice touch is to use a dry white wine instead of the water or mix Wine and water 1/2 and 1/2).
- cook on low for at least 5 hours.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 886.3, Fat 37.3, SaturatedFat 10.8, Cholesterol 284, Sodium 17346.1, Carbohydrate 34.9, Fiber 0.6, Sugar 27.1, Protein 96.7
POT-ROASTED PHEASANT
A true autumnal treat, this pot roast works equally well with partridge, guinea fowl or chicken
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Dinner, Main course
Time 2h20m
Yield Serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Dust the pheasants with the flour, then heat the oil in a large flameproof dish. Brown the pheasants all over, then remove from the dish.
- In the same dish, fry the bacon, vegetables, garlic and herbs with 1 tbsp of the dusting flour for 5 mins, until the vegetables start to colour. Put the pheasants and any resting juices back in the dish, pour on the Marsala, wine and stock, add the sugar, then cover and cook for 1 hr 30 mins - 1 hr 50 mins or until the leg meat easily comes away from the bone. Serve with bread sauce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 565 calories, Fat 30 grams fat, SaturatedFat 7 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 19 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 12 grams sugar, Fiber 5 grams fiber, Protein 45 grams protein, Sodium 0.95 milligram of sodium
Tips:
- Choose the right pheasant: Select a young, plump pheasant with a smooth, unblemished skin. Avoid birds with bruises or cuts.
- Prepare the pheasant properly: Remove the feathers and giblets, and rinse the pheasant inside and out. Pat dry with paper towels.
- Season the pheasant well: Use a flavorful combination of herbs, spices, and seasonings to enhance the taste of the pheasant.
- Use a moist cooking method: Pheasants are a lean bird, so it's important to use a moist cooking method to prevent them from drying out. Braising, roasting, and stewing are all good options.
- Don't overcook the pheasant: Pheasants are best cooked to a medium-rare or medium doneness. Overcooking will make the meat tough and dry.
- Let the pheasant rest before carving: Allow the pheasant to rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. This will help the juices redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more tender and flavorful dish.
Conclusion:
Pheasant is a delicious and versatile bird that can be prepared in a variety of ways. By following these tips, you can create a tender and flavorful pheasant dish that will impress your family and friends. Whether you're braising, roasting, or stewing pheasant, make sure to use a moist cooking method and don't overcook the bird. Experiment with different seasonings and herbs to find the perfect flavor combination for your taste. With a little effort, you can create a pheasant dish that will be the star of your next meal.
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