Pheasant casserole

Contains pork – recipe is for non-Muslims only

Make this festive pheasant stew in a sweet-and-sour cider and clementine sauce up to a day ahead, then simply reheat until piping hot when you want to serve

Prep:30 mins
Cook:1 hrs

Serves 4
More effort

Nutrition per serving

kcal 464
fat 19g
saturates 6g
carbs 25g
sugars 0g
fibre 6g
protein 41g
salt 1.6g

Ingredients

2 pheasants
2 tbsp rapeseed or sunflower oil
4 rashers streaky bacon , chopped
1 onion , finely chopped
2 celery sticks , finely chopped
400g Chantenay carrots , trimmed and halved lengthways
300g chestnut button mushrooms
2 tbsp plain flour
2 bay leaves
a few thyme sprigs , leaves picked
250ml cider or apple juice
400ml chicken stock
2 clementines , zested and juiced
1 tbsp redcurrant jelly
small bunch of flat-leaf parsley , leaves picked and chopped

Method

Carve the breasts from the pheasants, then remove the skin from the breasts and cut each one in half. Repeat with the pheasant legs, cutting each one at the knee joint to divide into two pieces. (Carve the rest of the carcasses to use later in gravies or stocks.)
Heat the oil in a medium flameproof casserole over a medium-high heat and brown the meat all over briefly, then remove to a plate. Fry the bacon in the pan for a few minutes. Add the onion and celery and fry for 7 mins more, stirring often until the veg has started to soften and turn golden. Add the carrots and mushrooms, and fry for a few more minutes until the mushrooms have released their liquid.
Stir in the flour, then add the bay, thyme, cider, stock and clementine zest and juice. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Return the pheasant pieces to the pan and simmer for 45 mins-1 hr.
Lift the pheasant pieces onto a plate, then reduce the sauce until glossy. Stir in the redcurrant jelly, then return the pheasant to the sauce. Sprinkle over the parsley to serve. Once completely cool, the casserole will keep frozen for up to three months. Defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat until piping hot.