Widgeon salad with bramble dressing

Serves 4

News in pictures
News in pictures
On Facebook
Life & Style blogs

HIV orphans in Thailand prepare for the future

In Baan Gerda, a community for HIV infected or affected youngsters in Northern Thailand, a group of ...

Online House Hunter: England’s most romantic places

Our Online House Hunter goes in search of romance this Valentine's Day...

Online House Hunter: Rugby – a Dickens of a town

Charles Dickens didn't think much of the railway town of Rugby in Warwickshire, calling it Mugby. Bu...

Widgeon is a member of the wild duck family. You could also use wild ducks, or any game bird you can get your hands on. Don't ditch the carcasses – as you can use them to make game soup.

2 oven-ready widgeon
A couple of knobs of butter, softened
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 rashers of streaky bacon, cut into 1cm cubes
100g or so of girolles or other wild mushrooms
60g cob nuts, shelled weight
Vegetable or corn oil for frying
A couple of handfuls of small, flavoursome salad leaves and herbs

For the bramble dressing

6-8 blackberries
1tbsp cider vinegar
4tbsp rapeseed oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

First make the dressing: crush the blackberries up in a bowl with a fork, then whisk in the vinegar and oil; season. Leave to stand for 30 minutes, then push through a sieve with the back of a spoon.

Preheat the oven to 220C/gas mark 7, season the widgeon and rub the breasts with butter. Roast for about 15 minutes, keeping them nice and pink; leave to rest. Meanwhile, fry the bacon in a dry pan for a few minutes until crisp, then transfer to some kitchen paper. Lightly toast the cob nuts. Melt the rest of the butter in the same pan and gently cook the girolles for 3-4 minutes, seasoning them as they cook.

To serve, remove the breasts from the carcass, cut into 6 or 7 slices and shred any meat from the legs. Arrange the leaves on 4 plates with the widgeon, bacon, cob nuts and girolles; spoon over the dressing.

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Career Services

Day In a Page

No secularism please, we're British

No secularism please, we're British

Arguments about the role of religion in national life have recently acquired a new urgency
Harold Tillman: 'Chinese tourists can save the high street – if we let them'

Harold Tillman interview

'Chinese tourists can save the high street – if we let them'
Working as a jail torturer ruined my life

Working as a jail torturer ruined my life

Meet the former soldier who has joined the political prisoners he tortured in Turkey's Mamak prison by suing the generals who led a regime of terror
The local high street jet shop

The local high street jet shop

Got a spare $50m and can't stand the queues at Heathrow? Get yourself down to London's first private plane dealership
Do you like your doctor? It could be the death of you

Do you like your doctor?

It could be the death of you...
The mysterious affair of how Agatha Christie is teaching foreigners English

How Agatha Christie is teaching foreigners English

Twenty of the author's novels have been adapted and presented with learning notes and a CD
Six Grammys, five years off: Adele puts love before career

Six Grammys, five years off

Adele puts love before career
The 10 Best binoculars

The 10 Best binoculars

From no-frills to bins with digital cameras
Milan for £300

Milan for £300?

A cultural family holiday - on a budget - to Italy's most stylish city
'Black-hole' resorts: Turn up, tune out, log off

'Black-hole' resorts

Turn up, tune out, log off
New Arsenal face an old question of credibility in San Siro

New Arsenal face an old question of credibility in San Siro

Remodelled since winning in Milan in 2008, for all their consistency – and prize-money – Wenger's side are yet to claim a European title
James Lawton: This prodigal son deserves no forgiveness

James Lawton: This prodigal son deserves no forgiveness

City would be putting their desire to win title ahead of morals if Tevez plays for them
Mark Cavendish: Is Olympic gold at end of the rainbow?

Mark Cavendish interview

Is Olympic gold at end of the rainbow?
Apple admits it has a human rights problem

Apple admits it has a human rights problem

After years of complaints and workers' suicides in China the technology giant faces up to the human cost of its gadgets
Peter Moore: 'I feel guilty I'm the only one alive'

Peter Moore interview

'I feel guilty I'm the only one alive'