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Roast pheasant with cavolo nero and bacon

Name: Roast pheasant with cavolo nero and bacon
Yield: Serves 4
Cuisine: Italian recipes
Ingredients: 4 tbsp olive oil; 2 whole pheasants, plucked and drawn; 100g dry-cured streaky bacon, cubed or sliced; 12 small shallots, peeled and left whole; 4 garlic cloves, crushed; 3 sticks celery, roughly sliced; 1 tsp salt; 100ml (1 small glass) sweet wine, such as Madeira; 1 tbsp tomato purée; 1 tbsp soft butter; 1 medium head cavolo nero, leaves removed from the stalks

Published: 30 Sep 05
Updated: 18 Mar 24

This roast pheasant with cavolo nero and bacon recipe is a wonderful alternative to a traditional English roast.

How about serving this pheasant dish as a Christmas main for four?

Easy
October 2005

Test kitchen approved

Serves 4
Ready in 1½ hours

This roast pheasant with cavolo nero and bacon recipe is a wonderful alternative to a traditional English roast.

How about serving this pheasant dish as a Christmas main for four?

Gluten-free recipes

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 581kcals
Fat: 23.8g (6.7g saturated)
Protein: 78.6g
Carbohydrates: 9.2g (7.4g sugar)
Salt: 2.6g

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Ingredients

4 tbsp olive oil
2 whole pheasants, plucked and drawn
100g dry-cured streaky bacon, cubed or sliced
12 small shallots, peeled and left whole
4 garlic cloves, crushed
3 sticks celery, roughly sliced
1 tsp salt
100ml (1 small glass) sweet wine, such as Madeira
1 tbsp tomato purée
1 tbsp soft butter
1 medium head cavolo nero, leaves removed from the stalks

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Method

Heat the oil in a casserole or large pot with a lid, and brown the birds all over. Remove and set aside, then fry the bacon briefly in the same pot until coloured. Add the shallots and fry quite briskly for 3-4 minutes, allowing them to caramelise slightly. Add the garlic, celery, salt, wine, tomato purée and 200ml water, then return the pheasants to the pot, breast-side up. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for about 1 hour. The bird is done when a leg can be tugged away from the breast with ease. Allow to rest in the juices for at least 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat the butter in a wide-bottomed frying pan and, when it is fizzing nicely, add the cavolo nero and cook until just wilted.
To serve, carve or joint the bird and serve it on the cabbage. Spoon over the bacon, celery and shallots.