Ingredients

The following ingredients have 5 Servings
  • 2 grouse, (2 pheasants or 2 pounds chicken thighs)
  • 2 carrots, (peeled and chopped)
  • 1 large onion, (chopped, about 2 cups)
  • 2 celery stalks, (chopped)
  • 1 tablespoon dried thyme
  • 1 tablespoon crushed juniper ((optional))
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 teaspoons dried marjoram or oregano
  • Salt
  • 2 cups barley
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh sage
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
  • 2 tablespoons malt or cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup sunflower or squash seed oil
  • 1 pound cherry tomatoes, (sliced in half)

Instruction

  • In a large pot, cover the grouse with 2 quarts cool water. Cover the pot and bring it to a simmer over medium-high heat. Skim any scum that floats to the surface. Add the the carrot, onion, celery, thyme, juniper, bay leaves and marjoram and salt to taste. Simmer gently -- do not boil -- for 20 minutes.
  • Remove the grouse and cut the breast meat off them. Return the rest of the grouse to the pot and simmer another hour. While the grouse stock is simmering, shred the grouse breast meat, moisten it with a little sunflower oil and set aside.
  • Turn off the heat and remove the grouse. Pick the meat off the legs and any remaining meat from the carcass and set in the bowl with the breast meat. Strain the stock through a fine-mesh strainer into another pot.
  • Bring the pot of strained grouse stock to a boil and add the barley, along with a pinch of salt. Turn the heat down to a simmer and cook until the barley is tender, about 30 minutes. Drain the barley and put it into a large bowl.
  • Add the grouse meat to the bowl with the barley, along with the fresh sage and rosemary. Mix in the tomatoes, sunflower oil and the malt vinegar and add salt and black pepper to taste. Serve with a light red wine, a dry rose or a malty beer.