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Pot-roast guinea fowl with chestnuts and spiced gravy

By: Louise Pickford

Published: 15 Sep 23
Updated: 25 Mar 24

Pot-roast guinea fowl with chestnuts and spiced gravy

Guinea fowl is perfect for pot braising, a method ideal for keeping this lean bird moist and tender. The heady combination of spices, chestnuts and red wine gravy sweetened with redcurrant jelly is wonderfully inviting.

Fluffy mash on the side?

Easy
October 2023

Test kitchen approved

Serves 4-6
Hands-on time 25 min. Oven time 1 hour 15 min, plus 15 min resting

Fluffy mash on the side?

Gluten-free recipes

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 501kcals
Fat: 26.6g (8.4g saturated)
Protein: 41.6g
Carbohydrates: 14.7g (4.2g sugars)
Fibre: 2.6g
Salt: 1.4g

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Ingredients

1 guinea fowl (approx. 1.5kg)
2 rosemary sprigs
250g cooked chestnuts
6 rashers streaky bacon, trimmed of any rind
25g unsalted butter
250ml red wine
350ml chicken stock
3 juniper berries, lightly crushed
2 star anise
½ tsp fennel seeds, lightly crushed
2 tbsp redcurrant jelly
Roast vegetables to serve

You’ll also need

Cocktail sticks

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Method

Heat the oven to 160°C fan/gas 4. Stuff the guinea fowl cavity with the rosemary and 50g of the chestnuts, season well with salt and pepper, then cover the breasts with the bacon, securing it in place with cocktail sticks.
Melt the butter in a medium casserole and fry the guinea fowl for 3 minutes on each breast until the bacon is browned. Turn the bird the right way up in the dish, then add the wine and bubble for 2 minutes. Pour in the stock, add the spices and season with salt and pepper.
Cover the casserole, then put in the oven to 1¼ hours. (This is a good time to prepare your vegetables too.) When it’s done, transfer the guinea fowl to a board and loosely cover with foil to rest.

While the bird rests, stir the redcurrant jelly into the pan juices, then put back over a medium heat. Simmer for 10 minutes until thickened, then add the remaining chestnuts and cook for another 2 minutes. Serve the guinea fowl and saucy chestnuts with your chosen vegetables (fish out and discard the star anise).