Grilled quails with salted egg yolk sauce recipe (2024)

There's not a lot of meat on quails so the best way to eat these is with your hands - pull them apart, dip them in the sauces and get a bit messy," says Mat Lindsay.

Dec 14, 2017 1:00pm

By Mat Lindsay

  • 1 hr preparation
  • 1 hr 10 mins cooking plus curing, preparing embers
  • Serves 4 - 6
  • Grilled quails with salted egg yolk sauce recipe (1)

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"There's not a lot of meat on quails so the best way to eat these is with your hands - pull them apart, dip them in the sauces and get a bit messy," says Mat Lindsay. "There are two sauces: a tare, made with chicken wings; and our take on a Singaporean salted egg sauce."
Begin this recipe a day ahead to cure the yolks.

Ingredients

  • 4 quails, butterflied
  • 1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra to serve

Salted egg yolk sauce

  • 500 gm caster sugar
  • 500 gm fine salt
  • 8 egg yolks
  • 1¼ tbsp milk
  • 1¾ tbsp skim-milk powder
  • 1 tsp caster sugar
  • 50 gm butter, diced
  • 1¾ tbsp milk powder

Chicken wing tare

  • 500 gm chicken wings (about 4), jointed
  • 100 ml cooking sake
  • 200 ml mirin
  • 300 ml light soy sauce
  • 4 star anise

Method

Main

  • 1

    For the salted egg yolk sauce, combine salt and sugar and spread half over the base of a container about 16cm x 22cm. Make 8 indents with the back of a spoon and sit yolks in indents. Cover with remaining salt-sugar mixture, cover container and refrigerate until you can squeeze yolks gently without them popping (24 hours).

  • 2

    Lightly rinse yolks and dry on paper towels (discard curing mixture). Blend salted egg yolks, milk, skim-milk powder, sugar and 1½ tsp salt with a hand-held blender until smooth and set aside. Bring butter and milk powder to the boil in a small saucepan, stirring constantly until combined (2-3 minutes). Add to blended ingredients, and blend on medium-high speed until fully emulsified (20-30 seconds). Refrigerate in an airtight container and bring to room temperature before serving. Egg yolk sauce will keep refrigerated in an airtight container for 3 days.

  • 3

    For tare, preheat oven grill to high and grill wings on a tray lined with foil, turning halfway through until golden and charred (18-20 minutes). Transfer to a saucepan large enough to stack wings in no more than 2 layers and place over medium-high heat. Add sake, bring to the boil and reduce by half (2-3 minutes). Add mirin, soy and star anise, return to the boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer gently until chicken fat renders and sauce is sticky (30-40 minutes). Strain through a fine sieve into a bowl.

  • 4

    Bring quails to room temperature. Meanwhile, preheat a charcoal barbecue until embers have ashed over (30-40 minutes), or preheat a gas barbecue to medium heat. Season quails with sea salt, drizzle with olive oil and lightly toss to coat. Grill quails, turning every minute and brushing with tare regularly until legs are completely cooked, breast is pink and skin is caramelised (14-16 minutes). Rest in a warm spot for at least 5 minutes.

  • 5

    Halve quails, dress with extra tare to taste, and serve with a drizzle of oil, seasoned with white pepper to taste, and a tablespoon of yolk sauce (piped if desired) to dip into.

Notes

Drink Suggestion: Descombes Beaujolais gamay. Drink suggestion by Julien Dromgool

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Grilled quails with salted egg yolk sauce recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does egg yolk do to a sauce? ›

Egg yolks are the ideal addition to pasta sauces, salad dressings and custards that need thickening. The protein in egg yolks thicken when heated and they also add a richness to sauces. You'll need to be careful when adding egg yolks to hot sauces because they can scramble the sauce.

What do you do with salted duck egg yolks? ›

Salted duck egg yolk sauce, however, is a versatile ingredient you may find in batters for fried foods (salted duck egg pumpkin fries are a popular menu item in China), marinades, stir-fries (stir-fried potatoes with duck egg yolk is a common combination), fried rice, congee, and baked goods (from traditional buns to ...

How do you store salted egg yolks? ›

Heat your oven to its lowest setting (60C/fan 40C/gas 1 /4 is ideal) and dry the yolks on an oiled cooling rack for three hours until dry and hard. Once they have cooled, the yolks are ready to finely grate. Amazingly, they will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Why do Italians put eggs in sauce? ›

But, yes, it was a thrifty way to bulk up the sauce, she explained. “I think the whole origin of it was the protein because they couldn't afford the meat,” she said. “So instead, they threw in eggs to compensate.” Both my grandmother and Aunt Carm said that they remember other Italian American families doing this.

What does egg sauce taste like? ›

Egg sauce, also known as béchamel or white sauce, is a classic French sauce made from a simple combination of butter, flour, and milk, with the addition of eggs for richness and flavor. This velvety sauce is known for its smooth texture and subtle taste, making it a versatile addition to a wide range of dishes.

Why is salted egg yolk so good? ›

This is because salted yolks are a traditional source for what in Chinese is referred to as “xianwei” and in Japanese, “umami.” Both terms describe the same thing: a rich, meaty taste high in glutamates, and the reason why such foods as good aged cheese, pasture eggs, ripe August tomatoes, artisanal Chinese soy sauce, ...

Are salt cured egg yolks safe to eat? ›

So, the next time you use egg whites, don't toss the egg yolks – cure them. There is a great article from SpruceEats that talks about how salt works as a preservative and food spoilage. Basically, salt curing it's a Salt curing is safe.

How long do salt cured egg yolks last in the fridge? ›

Cured yolks will keep covered and refrigerated for up to one month.

What do salt cured egg yolks taste like? ›

But what exactly does salt-cured egg yolk taste like? "Imagine a salty egg with an intensified savory flavor," Chiang tells Yahoo Life. "It tastes very rich and creamy — some people think it tastes a bit like cheese." On a recent outing, Chiang even tried a salted egg-topped soft-shell crab.

What does salted egg yolk syrup taste like? ›

It's salty, savory, and almost a bit nutty. I didn't like this in coffee; but I would honestly destroy a milkshake made with the stuff.

How much salt to use for salted eggs? ›

Ingredients: 12 duck eggs (or chicken eggs) 1 cup sea salt (or rock salt) 4 cups water.

Can salted egg yolk go bad? ›

If you were motivated and made salted eggs at home, the recipe you followed should note how long the salted eggs will be good for. However, if that information is missing, it's safe to assume that once the salted eggs are cooked, they usually last up to one month or 30 days.

Can I freeze salted egg yolk? ›

Salted eggs last for quite a while in the fridge (check the best before date!) because they are cured and they are vacuumed sealed individually. I will often freeze the packages of salted egg yolks, and defrost them when I need them.

Is it okay to refrigerate salted egg? ›

You can store them in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 1-2 months. Start testing after 30 days, depending on the egg size.

What does adding egg yolk to a recipe do? ›

Recipes that use just the yolk of an egg typically do so for the yolk's fat content and emulsifying abilities. The fat gives baked goods extra-rich flavor and a velvety texture. The yolk also has the unique ability to bind liquids and fats together, creating an emulsion that prevents them from separating.

When to add egg yolk to pasta sauce? ›

Drop a yolk into the pan or pot just after it's come off the heat, so that it's hot but not boiling. Whisk or stir quickly to break the yolk. Progressively, the residual heat will cook the yolk as you mix it into the entire dish.

Why add egg yolk to alfredo? ›

In this version, heavy cream and butter blends with tangy parmesan cheese and a touch of garlic, cracked pepper, and sea salt. Then eggs yolks – the secret ingredient – add depth and richness to the sauce.

Why put egg yolk in pasta? ›

Yolks are rich in color and full of nutrients. This helps give your dough a silky texture, gorgeous yellow color, and rich taste. To make great pasta, you need a combination of both. A dough made with all egg whites will be super gummy and gluey.

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