Seared Ruffed Grouse Breasts with Ramps and Morels

Seared Ruffed Grouse Breasts with Ramps and Morels

by: Adam Berkelmans, The Intrepid Eater

This beautiful springtime dish makes use of some ruffed grouse breasts from the freezer as well as freshly foraged ramps and morels. It’s a rich and buttery dish and the flavor will blow you away. Serve this on its own with a crusty baguette to soak up the sauce or with a pretty foraged spring salad. 

Ingredients

• – 2 grouse breasts
  – Kosher salt
  – Black pepper
  – 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon butter
  – 6 ramp (wild leek) leaves
  – 1 large shallot, thinly sliced
  – 2.5 ounces morel mushrooms, halved or cut into smaller pieces (or use 0.5 ounces of dried morels, soaked)
  – ¼ cup white wine
  – ¾ cup grouse stock, chicken stock, mushroom stock, or mushroom soaking liquid
  – Parmesan cheese to garnish
  – Microgreens to garnish

Preparation

1. If using dried mushrooms, soak in warm water for at least 30 minutes beforehand. Save the water and use it in place of stock. 
2. Take a grouse breast and put it in your hands, smooth side up, with both thumbs touching on top and your fingertips touching the rough side underneath. Very gently pull the rough side open with your fingertips, flattening the breast into an even layer (think butterflying without cutting). Try not to pull the breast right apart or lose the tenders. This isn’t completely necessary, but does allow the breasts to cook more evenly. 
3. Season the breasts generously on both sides with salt and pepper, then let sit on the counter for at least 15 minutes. 
4. Melt the 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the ramp leaves and let them sizzle for 1 minute. Remove and set aside, leaving the butter in the pan. 
5. Increase heat to high. Add the grouse breasts and cook for 2 minutes, pressing down gently with a spatula, then flip and cook for 1 more minute. Remove from the skillet and set aside to rest. Add the shallots and mushrooms to the skillet, season lightly with salt and pepper, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until slightly browned. Add the white wine and scrape up and bits stuck to the pan. Cook until the wine has mostly evaporated, then add the stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Keep cooking until the liquid has reduced by about half. 
6. Add 1 teaspoon of butter and a few cracks of black pepper to the shallot and mushroom mixture and simmer, stirring, for 1 minute. 
7. To serve, spoon a small amount of sauce onto a plate. Lay the breast on top, then drape with three ramp leaves. Spoon over the mushroom sauce, then shower with Parmesan and sprinkle with microgreens. Enjoy!