Teal. (No Abney)
Local. Seasonal. Stunning.
Our youngest (now only š¢) dog Peg is proving herself both fabulous and triumphant this shooting season, and we are fortunate to enjoy the fruits of her labour - which last week included snipe, teal and partridge.
Here is lovely Peg relaxing after a long day beating - still a pup really at only 20 months ā¤ļø
Ours is a small, farmers shoot, a few miles down the road, where everything that gets shot goes home with the guns, beaters, or pickers up and gets eaten - so āfrom field to forkā doesnāt get much better than this.
The snipe was a bit much for me, the partridge went to Granny, so we feasted this week on teal. I adore the charming kids programme that is Abney and Teal, and itās also one of my favourite pantonesā¦
But this teal is a small, wild duck. And it is utterly divine - sweet, tender, tasty, none of the deep gamey flavour of a snipe or a well-hung pheasant, much more delicate.
The cookery is simple - just roast like a miniature chicken (rest well and serve pink). Serve with roast potatoes, creamy leeks, broccoli, carrot and a delicious red wine jus. Pea puree would also work very nicely instead of the leeks, or a dauphinoise instead of roasted. I added some quince jelly which worked really well.
Lovely glass of red and cheers to gundogs. I love a dog with a job, unlike those work shy felines!