Ingredients
- ½ cup chicken stock, homemade or canned
- ¼ cup dry red wine
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 3 firm, ripe Bosc pears (about 1 1/2 pounds), peeled, halved and cored
- ¾ cup bulgur
- 4 medium squabs (about 11 ounces each), wingtips removed
- 2 tablespoons pear brandy
- Kosher salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- 2 to 3 scallions, thinly sliced on the diagonal (1/2 cup)
- Nutritional Information
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)
1187 calories; 78 grams fat; 28 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 31 grams monounsaturated fat; 9 grams polyunsaturated fat; 50 grams carbohydrates; 9 grams dietary fiber; 18 grams sugars; 62 grams protein; 304 milligrams cholesterol; 1134 milligrams sodium
Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
4 servings
Preparation
- Place a rack in middle of oven, and heat to 500 degrees. In a saucepan just large enough to hold pears in one layer, bring chicken stock, red wine and red wine vinegar to a boil. Add pears in one layer, and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until cooked through. Take 2 pear halves, and cut into chunks. Keep remaining pears covered to keep warm. In a blender, puree chunks with poaching liquid.
- Bring 1 3/4 cups of water to a boil. Add bulgur, and return to the boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cover pan, and cook 15 minutes.
- While bulgur is cooking and pears are poaching, rub each squab with pear brandy, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place squabs in a roasting pan, and roast for 16 to 17 minutes, or until juices run clear.
- Drain any remaining water from bulgur, fluff with fork, stir in butter, and allow it to melt. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- When squabs are roasted, remove to a platter. If pears have cooled, reheat in microwave for 2 minutes. Place roasting pan on stove over medium heat. Pour in 1/3 cup water, and boil, scraping up any browned bits on bottom of pan with a wooden spoon. Stir in pear puree and cardamom, and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper, and stir in scallions. Spoon some sauce over birds and bulgur, and pass the rest.
Dining and Cooking