flash Posted December 11, 2005 Report Share Posted December 11, 2005 i was wandering how you should cook a woodcock and how long you should hang it for? flash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryhawk Posted December 11, 2005 Report Share Posted December 11, 2005 My recipe, Pluck, draw and dress like a normal game bird, turn over breast down and with a pair of game shears cut out the back bone. Spread out breast down and push, then get some wooden kebab skewers and "spatchcock" out. Season with salt and pepper. Fry breast down until done to your choice. Yum Yum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted December 11, 2005 Report Share Posted December 11, 2005 Noooooooo.......never remove anything except the gizzard and the feathers. Let it hang 2 days-pluck up to the head then skin the head-remove the gizzard-rub the bird all over with a **** of seasoned butter and place a rasherof bacon(I prefer very thin parma ham)over the breast-push the knees up to the body and use the bill as a skewer(its easier if you break off the tip first)and use it to secure the legs in the trussed position. Roast at gas 8 for 10 -15 mins for medium or 20 for well done. Remove the innards and place in the roasting tin. Place the `cock on a warmed plate at the bottom of the turned off oven. Place the roasting tin over a medium flame and when it sizzles throw in 1/2 a glass of port,stir and mash the innards as they will be mushy(and sooooo tasty) until it reduces to a thickish sauce. Toast a slice of bread and spread the sauce on it then the woodcock on top of it. It may sound an awful recipe but the woodcock "evacuates"itself on springing up in the air so it doesn`t have anything in it apart from taste,believe me I thought I would be sick but it tastes gorgeous.....Enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted December 11, 2005 Report Share Posted December 11, 2005 Thats the one HD LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted December 12, 2005 Report Share Posted December 12, 2005 ....and it so happens I shot one today......Mmmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted December 12, 2005 Report Share Posted December 12, 2005 ....and it so happens I shot one today......Mmmmm Lucky shot then HD LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted December 16, 2005 Report Share Posted December 16, 2005 Not at all.....and I ate it last night.....DELICIOUS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammergun Posted December 17, 2005 Report Share Posted December 17, 2005 Slow roasted in an Aga is excellent too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisNicholls Posted December 18, 2005 Report Share Posted December 18, 2005 Femove the innards and place in the roasting tin. Place the roasting tin over a medium flame and when it sizzles throw in 1/2 a glass of port,stir and mash the innards as they will be mushy(and sooooo tasty) until it reduces to a thickish sauce. Interesting recipe, I have of course heard of the innards of the Woodcock being used in the dish, but have never tried it. On the assumption that game birds have the same basic make up inside as the Woodcock, Why has it never been suggested to use the innards of pheasants or partridges in the same way? The sauce suggested by Henry D is really just the offal being mashed, liver, kidneys,heart and lungs etc. Would it not work with bigger birds? I've seen lots of pheasants "evacuate" themselves when they jump. Or do you think it came about initially because of the need to bulk out the dish being as there is not that much there to start with?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted December 18, 2005 Report Share Posted December 18, 2005 Diet is the key,Woodcock eat invertebrates and phessies and partridge eat cereal/green stuff and the wader innards are therefore shorter so when it sh!ts all of it goes,but a phessie when you clean it has allsorts of horrible green decomposing stuff in it. If you do a woodcock like the recipe I posted then the trail comes out clean and no nasty smell or green colour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnskevena Posted January 28, 2006 Report Share Posted January 28, 2006 Noooooooo.......never remove anything except the gizzard and the feathers.Let it hang 2 days-pluck up to the head then skin the head-remove the gizzard-rub the bird all over with a **** of seasoned butter and place a rasherof bacon(I prefer very thin parma ham)over the breast-push the knees up to the body and use the bill as a skewer(its easier if you break off the tip first)and use it to secure the legs in the trussed position. Roast at gas 8 for 10 -15 mins for medium or 20 for well done. Femove the innards and place in the roasting tin. Place the `cock on a warmed plate at the bottom of the turned off oven. Place the roasting tin over a medium flame and when it sizzles throw in 1/2 a glass of port,stir and mash the innards as they will be mushy(and sooooo tasty) until it reduces to a thickish sauce. Toast a slice of bread and spread the sauce on it then the woodcock on top of it. It may sound an awful recipe but the woodcock "evacuates"itself on springing up in the air so it doesn`t have anything in it apart from taste,believe me I thought I would be sick but it tastes gorgeous.....Enjoy. Must try this one henry d. Sound good :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprinter Posted December 1, 2008 Report Share Posted December 1, 2008 Ok, I got lucky and bagged a woodcock on Saturday. Preparing and cooking it NOW. A simple 5 ingredient recipie so i nipped in the co-op on the way home tonight and set about preparing the beast this is how i did. 1 Woodcock - check loaf of bread for toasting thereof - check bottle of port - check **** of butter - darn it streaky bacon - darn it so had to go out again for bacon and butter. Honestly on a 5 ingredient dish how the hell can you forget to buy 2 of them especially when i only cook once in a blue moon Anyway due to the delay i am sampling the port, hope i don't forget about the woodcock in the oven otherwise the main event could rapidly go south Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprinter Posted December 1, 2008 Report Share Posted December 1, 2008 My goodness that was ******* awesome. I probably overdid the bacon, using 4 rashers and maybe (just maybe) had a tad too much port, served on two doorsteps of crusty toasted bread. But i sure as hell aint changing anything next time !!!!! Overall two thumbs good Hellfire i'd be well happy paying £35 for that in a restaurant. Here woodcock, woodcock, woodcock, here........ BANG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_R Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 A woodcock sarnie, how very gauche! Did you cook it as per the above, innards and all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peely Posted December 30, 2008 Report Share Posted December 30, 2008 I shot my first woodcock yesterday and plucked and drew it today. Have I really fu*cked up by drawing the bird or will there still be enough flavour in the meat? I am planning everything as above apart from the innards bit (must admit that I didn't fancy the trail when I was plucking it) Thanks Peely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted December 31, 2008 Report Share Posted December 31, 2008 You won`t have messed it up, you will only miss out on a small gastronomic delight. The flesh of the woodcock is a delight and perhaps if you enjoy it, who couldn`t, you will be prepared to go the extra mile and try the trail. Enjoy !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted December 31, 2008 Report Share Posted December 31, 2008 how do you hit the bloody thinggs in the first place! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted December 31, 2008 Report Share Posted December 31, 2008 I love Woodcock! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peely Posted December 31, 2008 Report Share Posted December 31, 2008 how do you hit the bloody thinggs in the first place! Don't really know, I doubt I could do it again.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted December 31, 2008 Report Share Posted December 31, 2008 Don't really know, I doubt I could do it again.... ive missed loads guess one day I'll hit one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprinter Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 A woodcock sarnie, how very gauche! Did you cook it as per the above, innards and all? Not gauche at all. The traditional way, roast woodcock on toast. Yes cooked innards and all, sauce made with bacon, innards and port. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 I shot my first woodcock today, after over twenty years of shooting. A very memorable experience, although I regret shooting such a noble bird. I've never before had a chance to shoot one, or it's been an opportunity lacking in challenge. A drive that was added into a shoot at the last moment showed 18 woodcock, of which 6 were shot. I now have a brace, which are going to be treated to Henry's recipe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_R Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Not gauche at all. The traditional way, roast woodcock on toast. Yes cooked innards and all, sauce made with bacon, innards and port. I was being tounge in cheek, no offence I hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprinter Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 I was being tounge in cheek, no offence I hope. B) None taken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicky T Posted January 9, 2012 Report Share Posted January 9, 2012 Off Woodcock shooting later this week and will hopefully have the opportunity to try Henry D's recipe out for myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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