Madeira Roast Pheasant

Yield > 6
Servings
Ingredients :
2 tbl Unsalted butter
1 x (unpeeled) coarsely chopped
onion
3 x Coarsely chopped celery stalk
2 x Coarsely chopped carrot
2 x Bay leaf
2 tbl Herbs de Provence *
3 x Pheasants (2 to 2-1/2 lb)
4 x Wings chicken
2 x Backs chicken
1 cup Room temperature unsalted
butter
1/4 cup Madeira
1 qt Chicken broth
1 tbl Unsalted butter
1 tbl All purpose flour
Garnish sprig parsley
Method :
• Preheat oven to 450 deg. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in
large roasting pan.
• Stir in onion, celery, carrots, bay leaves and 1 tablespoon
herbs de Provence. Top with pheasant giblets, necks, chicken
wings and backs. Roast until well browned, turning frequently,
about 40 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375 deg.
• Meanwhile, make herb butter by mixing 1 cup butter with
1 tablespoon herbs de Provence. Pat pheasants dry inside and
out. Loosen breast skin on each by gently sliding fingers under
neck flap and down between breast meat and skin, being
careful not to tear skin. Spread 1 1/2 tablespoons herb butter
evenly over breast under skin of each. Sprinkle each cavity
with salt and pepper. Place 2 tablespoons herb butter into each
cavity. Truss pheasants to hold shape. Arrange on sides atop
vegetable mixture in roasting pan.
• Roast 15 minutes, basting frequently with pan juices.
Turn on second side and roast 15 minutes, basting frequently.
Turn pheasants breast side up.
• Add Madeira to pan and continue roasting until juices run
pale pink when thickest part of thigh is pierced, basting
frequently, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer pheasants to platter and discard string. Tent
with foil.
• Add broth to roasting pan. Boil until reduced to 3 cups
liquid, scraping up any browned bits, about 6 minutes. Strain
sauce and degrease. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy small
saucepan over low heat. Add flour and stir 3 minutes. Whisk in
sauce in thin stream. Simmer 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
Adjusting seasoning. Pour into bowl. Garnish pheasant with
parsley. Pass sauce separately.
• *Available at specialty foods stores.
• (Ouida & Vince Kelly)