Roasted partridge with spätzle
Richard Bainbridge's roasted partridge recipe is served with spätzle, a type of traditional handmade German noodle. The birds are stuffed with hay and juniper before roasting for a wonderfully aromatic finish.
Ingredients
Roasted partridge
- 2 partridges
- 2 sprigs of thyme
- 4 bay leaves
- 20 juniper berries , crushed
- 2 handfuls of hay
- 100g of salted butter
- salt
- white pepper
Spätzle
- 2 eggs
- 1 egg yolk
- 120ml of milk
- 250g of plain flour
- 30g of butter , melted
- 1 pinch of nutmeg
- 50g of salted butter
To serve
- watercress
- pomegranate seeds
- 2 walnuts , finely grated with a microplane
Equipment
- Ice
Method
1
To make the spätzle, combine the eggs, egg yolk and milk in a bowl. Place the flour on a work surface, form a well in the centre and pour in the egg mixture, mixing thoroughly until it comes together to form a loose dough. Stir in the melted butter and a pinch of nutmeg
2
Bring a pan of salted water to a rolling boil. Push the spätzle dough through the holes of a sturdy colander or potato ricer to form small noodles which drop directly into the boiling water
3
Boil the spätzle for a minute or two until they rise to the top of the water, then drain and place into iced water to stop them cooking further. Once they have cooled, drain them again and season with oil and salt. Set aside until ready to serve
4
Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4
5
Place the thyme, bay leaves, hay and juniper berries into the cavity of each partridge. Season well with salt
- 1 handful of hay
- 2 bunches of partridge
- 1 sprig of thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 10 juniper berries , crushed
- salt
6
Preheat a large ovenproof frying pan over a high heat. Once hot, add a splash of oil and gently place the birds into the pan. Turn the heat down by half, add the butter and allow to foam, spooning it over the birds to baste. Colour all over until golden brown then transfer the pan to the centre of the oven. Roast the birds for 8–10 minutes
- 50g of salted butter
7
Remove from the oven and leave the partridges to rest on a rack for 8–10 minutes. Finish with a good crack of white pepper
8
Meanwhile, place a frying pan on a medium heat, add a knob of butter and cook until foaming. Once bubbling, add the spätzle and fry until golden brown
- 50g of salted butter
9
Carve the rested partridges, keeping the breasts whole
10
To serve, place some spätzle in the centre of each plate, then place a partridge breast over the top. Sprinkle over some lightly dressed watercress, pomegranate seeds and grated walnut
- walnuts , grated
- watercress
- pomegranate seeds
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Roasted partridge with spätzle
