INGREDIENTS:

• For the Quail

  • 12 quail , boned
  • 2 ancho chili
  • 1  cup peanut oil   (or 1/2 peanut oil and 1/2 olive oil)
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1/2 orange, juice of
  • 1 lime, juice of

  For the Black Bean Tortas (Refried Black Beans)

  • 4  ounces black beans
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1  sprig epazote
  • 1  ounce bacon , diced
  • 1  ounce pork fat   or lard , diced
  • 1  tablespoon butter
  • 3 egg , beaten

  For the Guacamole

  • 2 avocado
  • 1/2 red bell pepper , finely chopped
  • 1  small red onion , finely chopped
  • 2 serrano chili   or jalapeno , minced
  • 1  bunch cilantro , chopped
  • 1 lime, juice of
  • 2  tablespoons olive oil
  • 1  teaspoon salt and pepper   (to taste)
  • 3  ounces goat cheese
  • 1/2  cup sour cream
  • 12 flour tortillas

  For the Sauce

  • 3 poblano chile , peeled, seeded and chopped
  • 1 red onion , sliced
  • 4 tomatillo , husks removed
  • 2 garlic clove
  • 1/2  cup pumpkin seeds
  • 1  tablespoon maple syrup   (to balance acidity and spiciness)
  • 1 1/2  cups chicken stock
  • 2  bunches cilantro , chopped, reserve some sprigs for garnish
  • 4  tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1  tablespoon kosher salt

  For the Tomato Salsa

  • 6 plum tomato , chopped
  • 1/2 red onion , minced
  • 1  bunch cilantro , chopped
  • 1 serrano chili , minced (or jalapeno)
  • 1 lime, juice of
  • salt and pepper , to taste

  PREPARATION:

  1. For the Quail:.
  2. Wash the ancho chilies and remove the stems and seeds. Soak the chilies in water for 5 minutes to soften them. In a blender, puree the ancho chilies, garlic, orange juice, and the juice of the lime with the oil. Marinate the quail in the puree for about an hour.
  3. For the Black Bean Tortas.
  4. (Refried Black Beans):.
  5. Place the black beans, garlic, and epazote in a pot with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil and simmer until the beans are soft. If necessary, add just enough additional water to keep the beans covered. When the beans are done, allow them to cool in their own liquid. When the beans are cool, puree half of them in their liquid until smooth. Combine the puree with the whole beans.
  6. In a heavy skillet or pot, combine the bacon and pork fat and cook over medium heat to render the fat. Add the cooked beans and stir the mixture over medium heat until the fat is absorbed and the mixture is thick. If the beans are too liquid, continue to cook slowly over medium heat to evaporate the liquid until the mixture is thick.
  7. In a clean skillet, heat the butter until hot. Add the bean mixture and heat until hot. Add the beaten eggs and scramble with the beans. Add the salt and transfer to a plate and keep warm.
  8. For the Guacamole:.
  9. Split and seed the avocados. Remove the meat to a mixing bowl. Add the sweet red pepper, red onion, Serrano chili, cilantro, and juice from the lime to the avocado. With the back of a large spoon, mash the ingredients into a very coarse puree. Salt and pepper, to taste.
  10. To assemble the Tortas:.
  11. With a 2 inch cookie cutter or small knife, punch out 12 small rounds from the tortillas. Spread some black beans (approximately 2 Tbsp) on one tortilla. Add a nugget (1/2 oz) of goat cheese to the black beans and top with the avocado mixture. Finish the tortas by covering the avocado mixture with a second small tortilla. In a large flat skillet, heat a Tbsp of butter over moderate heat. Slowly fry the tortas on both sides until the tortillas are golden brown. Keep warm.
  12. For the Sauce:.
  13. Grill the poblano chilies over a charcoal fire or under a broiler until the skins are charred. When cool, peel and seed the chilies. Grill or broil the onion slices, tomatillos, and garlic cloves until lightly cooked. Heat the pumpkin seeds in a dry skillet until lightly toasted. In a blender, combine the chilies, tomatillos, onion, garlic, maple syrup, and one half of the pumpkin seeds with the chicken stock. Blend briefly (10 seconds) to give a coarse puree. Do not over blend. Transfer the puree to a sauce pot. If the puree is too thick, add more stock; if too thin, boil gently to reduce to a sauce-like consistency. Just before serving, heat the sauce over moderate heat. Add the chopped cilantro and the remaining pumpkin seeds and whip in the butter. Salt and pepper, to taste.
  14. For the Tomato Salsa:.
  15. Roughly chop the tomatoes. Combine with the minced onion, chopped cilantro, and minced chili. Add the juice of the lime and mix thoroughly. Salt and pepper, to taste.
  16. To assemble the dish:.
  17. Grill the quail, skin side down, over a charcoal fire or skin side up in a broiler on a wire rack. The quail should be cooked almost entirely on the skin side. Grill the quail on the meat side for only a few seconds. This will prevent the meat from becoming too dry. The meat should be pink and not over-cooked. Depending on the temperature of the fire, three to four minutes should be sufficient.
  18. Place a warm black bean torta in the center of a dinner plate. Top each with some sour cream. Spoon some sauce onto each plate around the torta. Place a grilled quail on each side of the torta. Garnish with the tomato salsa and some sprigs of cilantro.

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 quail
• 1 onion , diced
• 1 bell pepper , diced
• 1  cup flour
• 1 (10 3/4 ounce) can condensed golden mushroom soup
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2  teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2  cup water
• 4  slices bacon , cut in half
• oil (for frying)
• 1  cup flour
  
  

PREPARATION:

1. In frying pan heat about 2 inches of oil.
2. Cut each quail in half down the back.
3. Wrap bacon piece around each half and secure with toothpicks.
4. Dredge in flour and fry in the oil until light brown.
5. Drain on paper towel,and place in casserole dish,throw in the onion,bell pepper,and seasonings.Mix the soup with the water and pour over the quail.
6. Cover and bake at 350°F about one hour or until done.Pierce quail with fork to check if it is tender.If it is,leave cover off for ten minutes then remove from oven.
7. Remove the toothpicks.
8. Serve over hot rice or mashed potatoes.
9. Good with hot buttered biscuts.