Woodcock Ballotine with Wild Rice Stuffing
Woodcock Recipe
1Setup & Prepare
Cultural Context
This advanced preparation represents the pinnacle of game bird cookery, requiring both technical skill and artistic vision. The ballotine technique, where the bird is boned and reformed around stuffing, showcases the cook's mastery while creating an elegant presentation worthy of the most sophisticated dinner parties. The wild rice stuffing pays homage to American ingredients while providing textural contrast to the incredibly tender woodcock meat.
2Ingredients
Shopping List
3Cooking Instructions
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Boning: Carefully bone woodcock, keeping skin intact. This requires patience and a sharp, flexible knife. Reserve bones for stock.
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Stuffing Preparation: Sauté shallots and garlic in butter until soft. Add ground pork and cook until browned. Stir in cooked wild rice, cranberries, pecans, herbs, and stock. Season and cool completely.
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Seasoning: Season boned woodcock inside and out with salt and pepper.
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Stuffing: Divide stuffing among the four birds, placing it where the cavity was. Don't overstuff.
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Rolling: Carefully roll each bird back into its original shape, tucking skin around stuffing.
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Tying: Tie each ballotine with kitchen twine at 1-inch intervals to maintain shape during cooking.
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Searing: Heat olive oil in oven-safe skillet. Brown ballotines on all sides, about 8 minutes total.
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Roasting: Transfer skillet to 400°F oven and roast 12-15 minutes until internal temperature reaches 135°F.
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Resting: Remove from oven and rest 10 minutes before removing twine and slicing.
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Service: Slice each ballotine to show the beautiful stuffing spiral. Serve with pan juices or light sauce.
4Chef's Notes & Pairings
Chef's Notes
- Take time with the boning - patience prevents tears in the skin
- Don't overstuff or the ballotines will burst during cooking
- Sharp knife is essential for clean slicing that shows the spiral
Wine Pairing
A mature Burgundy or elegant Barolo provides the sophistication and complexity to match this advanced preparation.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving: 465 calories, 28g protein, 24g fat, 32g carbohydrates. Technical masterpiece with complete nutrition.
