Squabs In Grape Sauce Recipes

Steps:

• Trim base of endives, remove any darkened outer leaves, and slice in half lengthwise. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 1/2 cups of water to a boil. Add lemon juice, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and endives. Reduce heat; simmer until tender, about 15 minutes.
• Rinse squabs, and pat dry. Cut in half. Remove backbones and necks (set aside) and excess fat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil and 1 teaspoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Place squabs, backbones, and necks in skillet. Brown on all sides, starting skin side down, for a total of 10 minutes.
• Transfer squabs and bones to a plate. Drain fat from pan, return to heat, and add wine and grape juice. Bring to a boil. Return squabs and bones to pan, reduce heat to medium low, and cook, partially covered, for 12 to 15 minutes.
• Heat remaining butter in another skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle endives with remaining 1/2 teaspoon sugar and place, cut side up, in skillet. Cook on both sides until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer squabs to a plate. Discard bones. Strain cooking liquid, skim fat, and return to skillet. Bring to a boil, and reduce slightly until thick, about 3 minutes. Add squabs and grapes; cook until grapes are heated through. Serve with endives.

Steps:

• Heat butter in cast iron skillet, and brown squabs on all sides. Remove squabs to a platter.
• Pour off butter and deglaze skillet by taking it off the flame, adding Madeira and scraping fond from skillet's sides and bottom. Add game stock, thyme, basil, parsley and bay leaf. Simmer 5 minutes, uncovered.
• Wash grapes and put them and squabs into the skillet. Cover and cook over medium heat 20 minutes. Remove birds to warm serving platter. Pour remaining juices and liquids into strainer. Put the strained liquid into a sauce pan, adding sugar and salt. Boil until liquid is reduced to two-thirds or half its volume, about 10 to 15 minutes, and has become glistening and thick. Pour sauce around bird.