Learning how to use quail or quail eggs in cooking is a great skill that not only gives delicious flavor, but also huge nutritional benefits. Check out these tips to cooking with quail and try some favorite recipes.
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Most cooks don’t consider bringing quail or quail eggs into their home kitchen, but they should! 
While traditional chicken eggs are usually used for deviled eggs, avocado toasts, or salads, imagine the same recipes, but with quail eggs. The result are dishes with beautiful eggs, that are more appropriately bite-sized.
Plus, quail eggs have five times the amount of iron and potassium of chicken eggs. They are also known to help with digestion and even build up the immune system.
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The next time you make deviled eggs, try with quail eggs for a beautiful presentation and a bite that is much more manageable, like this recipe from Manchester Farms Quail.
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Deviled Quail Eggs with Coconut Vinegar
- Total Time: 19 minutes
- Yield: Serves 6
- Diet: Omnivore
Description
Tangy deviled quail eggs with a surprising coconut vinegar kick. A sophisticated and simple appetizer perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
- 6 quail eggs
- 0.5 tsp coconut vinegar
- 0.25 tsp favorite mustard
- Salt
- Pepper
- Cut chives
Instructions
- Boil eggs in vinegar water for 4 minutes.
- Place boiled eggs in an ice bath for 5 minutes and peel.
- Slice eggs and separate the yolks and whites.
- Mix the yolks, coconut vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper.
- Add the mixture to a piping bag (or a plastic bag with a cut tip).
- Pipe the mixture onto the egg whites.
- Add a slice of chive to each egg for garnish.
Notes
- For easier peeling, gently tap the boiled eggs all over before placing them in the ice bath.
- If you don’t have a piping bag, a spoon works well for filling the egg whites.
- Store leftover deviled quail eggs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 quail egg
- Calories: 50
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 50
- Fat: 4
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Unsaturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 1
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 3
- Cholesterol: 180
Manchester Farms is the oldest quail farm in the United States, raising the poultry since 1974. Based in South Carolina, the business is now run by the second generation. Here are some of their tips to cooking quail. Our favorite part? No matter which method you use, most quail can be cooked in only about ten minutes.
Switch Up Your Wings
Quail legs make a perfect appetizer that feel much more gourmet than chicken. Grill or cook on the stovetop for about three to five minutes.
Shutterstock: B. and E. Dudzinscy
Leave it Whole
For a beautiful presentation, leave quail whole and stuff just like a turkey. However, before roasting, be sure to sear on high heat first to lock in its moisture and flavor.
Keep it Moist
To help keep the bird from drying out, baste with butter or sauce while it is cooking or even wrap in bacon or pancetta.
Serve with Tannins
Because quail is a very gamey tasting bird, which we love, it should be paired with a wine that has strong tannins to help refresh your palate.
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Simple and satisfying, quail lend a touch of class to any meal. In this recipe from Manchester Farms, the birds are “spatchcocked” after the backbone and two end joints from each wing are removed, leaving only the drummettes, the bird is opened and flattened.
PrintD’Artagnan Grecian Grilled Quail
Ingredients
- 4 whole “spatchcocked” quail
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Sliced lemon (to garnish)
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rub quail with olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. Sprinkle lightly with rosemary, salt, and pepper.
- Heat a gas or charcoal grill until hot.
- Place quail skin side down and grill just until skin is nicely browned, 1 to 1 1½ minutes, then turn, close lid, and continue grilling until cooked through, 2½ to 3 minutes.
- Remove and serve with lemon slices.
- Category: Main
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you cook quail eggs without breaking them?
Lower them gently into boiling water and cook for exactly 4 minutes for a soft, jammy yolk. An ice bath immediately after stops the cooking and makes peeling easier.
Are quail eggs difficult to peel?
They can be fiddly. Cracking the shell all over on a hard surface and then peeling under cold running water helps loosen the membrane.
What does coconut vinegar taste like and what can I use instead?
Coconut vinegar is mild and slightly sweet with less sharpness than white wine vinegar. Apple cider vinegar or a small amount of rice vinegar are good substitutes.
Where can I buy quail eggs?
Asian grocery stores and specialty food markets regularly stock quail eggs. Some well-stocked supermarkets carry them in the specialty egg section.
