As the grouse season starts and the migration north continues the most important question is how to cook the best roast grouse when you take your brace home. This traditional roast grouse recipe is perfect.
Traditional roast grouse is one of the best grouse recipes you will find. Roast grouse is as much a part of the sporting season as the migration north on the 12th August, pheasants on the 1st October and hounds come November. The best sort of restaurant will be racing to serve the first bird on the 12th – a North Yorkshire one might best a Scottish one in terms of distance. But for those who would rather cook their own we have all you need to know.
Firstly, if you are going to the moor grouse shooting make sure you have the best of days. Take heed of our how to shoot grouse guide and the three deadly grouse shooting errors to avoid.
Once you have your brace in hand it is time to cook your traditional roast grouse.
As we are at the start of the season there is no need to worry about older birds. A young bird is best cooked in the traditional way. There is no danger it will be tough, like an older bird. As the season goes on and older birds present themselves you do need to think about changing your cooking technique.
Reviving a dry bird – Roast grouse recipe
Even old grouse can be roasted, do not overlook an old bird
But at the start of the season there is no need to fuss with a young bird. Just roast it and serve with bread sauce and game chips – the elements that complete the traditional roast grouse recipe. There is very little that can compete with a properly roasted grouse for gastronomic delight.
This traditional roast grouse recipe pays unadulterated homage to the main ingredient. Grouse does have a strong smell but this game bird often tastes less strong than one anticipates. Grouse is wild, natural and a thoroughly healthy addition to the diet.
WHAT TYPE OF GROUSE?
If you are have shot your bird you will know its age. There is no need to hang a young bird. Old birds can benefit from a different cooking method. If you don’t know the age of your bird err on the side of caution.
TRADITIONAL ROAST GROUSE RECIPE
(best for young birds)
Serves 4
Ingredients
■ 4 young grouse
■ Salt and pepper
■ 8 crushed juniper berries
■ 8 sprigs thyme
■ 8 rashers streaky bacon
■ A little fat for roasting
■ A couple of handfuls root vegetables
For the bread sauce
■ 400ml (131⁄2fl oz) milk
■ 1 white onion studded with 5 whole cloves
■ 4 slices white bread, crushed
■ A good pinch mixed ground spice
■ Salt and pepper
For the game chips
■ 1 large frying potato, such as Maris Piper
■ Oil for deep frying
■ Salt
For the gravy
■ 200ml (7fl oz) veal/game stock
■ A good splash sloe gin
■ 100ml (31⁄2fl oz) light red wine
To garnish
■ Local watercress
■ Home-made or high-quality redcurrant jelly
How to cook the traditional roast grouse recipe
To make the bread sauce
Bring the milk to the boil with the onion in it. Let this infuse for about 20 minutes, then remove the onion and add the breadcrumbs, spice and seasoning.
The sauce needs to be of a loose, dropping consistency. Set aside and keep warm.
To cook the game chips
Peel the potato and slice it very thinly (NB: this should be done before the grouse is roasted). Rinse it thoroughly in cold water two or three times to remove as much starch as possible (this makes the potato crisps crispier). Pat dry, and deep-fry for two to three minutes, until golden brown. Season with a little table salt and set aside.
To cook the grouse
Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6. Season inside and out, put the juniper berries inside the cavities of the birds, tuck a sprig of thyme under each leg and lay two rashers of streaky bacon over the breast of each grouse.
Colour in a roasting tray with a little clarified butter or duck fat. When sealed on all sides, roast for between 16 and 20 minutes, depending on size. Remove from tray and keep warm. Add the root vegetables to the roasting tray. Tip any juices from the birds into the tray as well as any offal – this will add to the flavour – and scrape up any sediment
that’s in the tray. Add the stock, sloe gin and red wine. Simmer gently for five to six minutes, pass through a fine sieve into a saucepan, and check the seasoning.
HOW TO PRESENT TRADITIONAL ROAST GROUSE
Carve the breasts and legs. Arrange the streaky bacon next to each bird on a warm dinner plate. Put a pile of game chips next to the bird with a sprig or two of watercress. Pour any excess juices into the sauce, then pour the sauce over the birds and serve with warmed bread sauce and a pot of redcurrant jelly.
NB: keep all the carcasses for making good game stock; you can always stockpile bones in the freezer and make a decent batch when you have a good quantity.