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Partridge Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to partridge
About partridge
The partridge bird is a close relative to the grouse and pheasant. It's a popular game bird with meat that has a pale color and a mildly gamy flavor. When prepared correctly, the meat can be very flavorful, juicy, and tender, and the mild flavor makes partridge a good introduction to game bird meat for people trying it for the first time. It has a slightly stronger flavor than pheasant, making it capable of taking on fairly robust flavors during the cooking process.
You can usually find two kinds of partridge. Gray partridge has tender flesh that is full of flavor, even when young. The red-legged partridge has a milder flavor.
Partridges are native to Europe, Africa, and Asia and were brought over to the United States as game birds. Today they are hunted in the wild and raised in preserves to provide a steady supply of meat. Partridges have a plump shape with muscular and heavy breasts, and they make a healthy alternative to chicken. A 100-gram portion of partridge has:
- 127 calories
- 0 carbohydrates
- 4 grams of fat
- 22 grams of protein
- 0 grams of sugar
- 0 grams of cholesterol
Find partridge on Instacart, and try your hand at cooking this delicious game bird.
Cooking tips for partridge
As with other game birds, cooking partridge can be challenging because it is so lean, but the meat is tender and flavorful once you know how to do it. The trick is not to overcook it. If you cook the meat too long, it will dry out, and the gamy flavor can clash with seasonings and sauces. Fresh sage is one of the best herbs for partridge. It complements the flavor of the game meat perfectly. It can also help to brine the bird before cooking.
Here are some tips for cooking partridge:
- The gamy flavor works well on the barbecue and will take on intense flavors such as Texas rubs or Korean chili sauce.
- Young partridge has a mild enough flavor that it works well in salads. Pair the meat with dressings made with blackberry, and add it to a salad with watercress and sweet corn.
- It adapts well to most chicken recipes. Just substitute partridge for the chicken.
- Create partridge satay to serve on skewers as a snack.
- Add fat to make this lean game bird moist and flavorful.
- Marinate the meat before cooking, just like you would any other poultry.
- If cooking the bird whole, fill the cavity with moist stuffing, fresh herbs, and an onion or an apple. This will not only add flavor but also create moisture during the cooking process.
- Leave the skin on during cooking to keep the moisture in the meat and seal in the juices.
- Wrap the bird in aluminum foil, or use a cooking bag. Remove the foil at the end of cooking to crisp up the skin.
- Let the partridge rest for 15 minutes before cutting and serving to allow the juices to redistribute and relax.
Cooking methods you can use to prepare partridge include:
- Grilling: Split the bird, and grill it over hot coals. Prepare the meat for grilling by brushing it with olive oil and sprinkling it with a mixture of herbs and spices.
- Roasting whole: Place a sprig of thyme and a few juniper berries in the cavity. Spread softened butter and oil over the bird, along with a rasher of bacon on each breast, and roast in the oven at 400 F for 30 minutes.
- Sauteing: Put the whole partridge in a hot pan and sear on both sides, pressing the legs down on the hot surface. Because it is small, you can cook the entire bird without putting it in the oven to finish the process.
If you purchase partridge breast fillets instead of the whole bird or as part of the whole bird, they saute beautifully. You can season the partridge breast with salt and pepper, fry over medium heat for just two minutes on each side, and then create a sauce from the juices.
The cooking time for partridge is brief. Thanks to its small size, it doesn't take long to cook all the way through. Basting is also an important part of the cooking process to ensure the meat stays moist.
Partridge Near Me
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FAQs about partridge
Flavors that pair well with partridge include pear and apricots. You can make side dishes with pumpkin, butternut squash, or potatoes, which can all be cooked with the partridge or separately. Leeks or chicory also pair well with this game bird, as do green beans, Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, and parsnips.
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