Last Updated on June 16, 2020
Pan Fried Pigeon Breast.
Last Autumn I acquired some medlars. I had no idea what to do with them, just a fascination with these fruits that you needed to rot before they were ready to use…I think my original plan was to make medlar cheese, but when they had bletted (rotted) there were not really enough of them. So I made a confit by bletting them, squidging them into a pan and adding an equal quantity of honey, then boiling up till I had something approaching a medlar jam or confit.
It tastes fabulous. Earthy, sweet and spicy. But where does it belong? If I was in any way a baker I might make a sourdough bread, but I’m not! So using it alongside game was an obvious way forward. I’ve used some with roast pheasant. But, that’s out of season now and I still have half a jar left.
I made another Abel and Cole order this week and decided to risk pigeon. It’s something I’ve eaten in restaurants and really not enjoyed, and something that we never ate as a family because my mum regarded pigeon as vermin…so, for me this was outside my comfort zone. But, why not? one of the advantages of cooking for yourself is that no one else gets to suffer if the dish is disgusting. This is my second attempt at Pigeon breasts with red wine and medlar jus, which I served with polenta mash and wilted spinach and it’s a recipe that has improved with a little practice.
- 4 Pigeon breasts Scored two or three times
- 8-10 Juniper Berries Crushed
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 handful Fresh Thyme
- 1 stick Celery finely chopped
- Carrot finely chopped
- 1 Small Onion or Shallot finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 175 ml Red Wine
- 175 ml Beef Stock You can substitute chicken stock
- 2 teaspoons Medlar Confit (or quince jelly/redcurrant jelly or similar
-
At least an hour before you plan on cooking, marinade the pigeon breasts in oil, juniper berry and thyme. If you have less than 2 hours, do this at room temperature, if you have more than 2 hours you can place the meat and marinade in the fridge and remove about 30 minutes before you want to cook.
-
Make the Jus: Gently stew the celery, onion and carrot in oil
-
After about 5 minutes and once the edges start to caramelise, add the wine
-
Simmer gently for 15 minutes
-
Add the stock and cook for a further 15 minutes till the whole mixture is reduced down to about 50%
-
Pass all the mixture through a fine sieve and return to pan
-
Add the medlar confit and season with salt and pepper to taste. You can now put this to one side till you are ready to cook the pigeon.
-
Pre heat the oven to 180c. Heat the remaining oil in a heavy based frying pan
-
Remove the pigeon from marinade and sear in the frying pan for about 2 minutes on each side, then place in the oven to finish for anything from 5 - 10 minutes depending on how pink you like your game (I personally recommend 5 minutes)
-
Make up polenta according to the packet direction
-
Wilt the spinach in the pan you have used to sear the pigeon
-
Reheat the Jus if necessary and plate.
So, I am now a pigeon fan. Game that is available all the year-round, 6 pigeon breasts (enough for three servings) are currently priced at £5 from Abel and Cole, so extremely good value for money. And, of course, like any convert, I am now an advocate. Pigeon breasts are tender, well flavoured and really worth trying.
For a quicker recipe with pigeon breast that is just as good, do check out our Pigeon Breast in Red Wine or perhaps try one of our recipes for Partridge – here’s a roast partridge recipe with pear and thyme.
Fabulous recipe. I used creamy leek mash and buttered hispi cabbage. Also my homemade medlar jelly. Delicious! Thank you
Done with medlar jelly rather than medlar cheese because that’s what I had, and fried polenta rounds with parmesan. Absolutely delicious. This one goes on the list of favourites.
Nowhere near as fiddly as it sounds, and thoroughly worth the effort to make the most of a very underrated, free range, sustainable meat.
How long do I actually cook the pigeon breast in the oven for
Hi, they can stay in the oven for anything from 5 minutes to about 10 depending on how pink you like game. I would personally stick with about 5 minutes – I am going to update the recipe now so thanks for your feedback
So have you tried pigeon breast yet?
I don’t mind eating them, I don’t like them flying around though, had a bad childhood experience in Trafalgar Square! Your dish looks delicious.
I did too, not in trafalgar square, but when I was about 21 in Russell Square, where they tried to eat my lunch!
believe it or not, they were on sale at my local farmers market in Fulham. And not particularly expensive either – I think enough to make a small pot of confit was around £1 worth
This is JUST such a wonderful recipe Fiona, I am so pleased you posted it….this is just the sort of meal I love, and I am a BIG fan of medlars too. Karen
I know you are a medlar fan Karen, I seem to remember you and I first started talking about that WAY back!