Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
Pomegranate Chocolate Jus:
- Reserved squab carcasses
- Reserved corn cobs (no kernels)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
- 1 quart (1 L) water
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons (150 ml) pomegranate molasses
- 6 tablespoons (90 ml) cold butter, cubed
- 18 dark chocolate callets (or pistoles)
- Salt
Lime Kataifi:
- 2 cups (470 ml) kataifi, thawed
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) oil
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) butter, melted
- Salt
- 1 lime, zest
Pistachio Crusted Squab:
- 2 whole squabs
- Salt and pepper
- ¾ cup (180 ml) panko breadcrumbs, medium fine
- ¾ cup (180 ml) roasted pistachios, ground
- ½ cup (120 ml) all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) olive oil
Sumac Locro de Zapallo:
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
- ½ red onion, small dice
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 ears of corn, kernels only (reserve cobs for jus)
- 2 small butternut squash, peeled and cut into ¼ inch (3 mm) cubes
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) sumac
- ½ lemon, zest and juice
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) butter
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) chopped parsley
Method:
Pomegranate Chocolate Jus:
Cut the squab carcasses and corn cobs into rough, even, 2-inch (5 cm) chunks.
Heat oil in a small pot over medium-high heat. Add the carcass and cob chunks and sear, stirring, until evenly browned.
Strain out the oil and add the water. Return to medium heat and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 2 hours.
Strain the stock, discarding the solids and returning the liquid to the pot. Bring the strained stock to a boil and cook until the volume is reduced to 1 cup (240 ml) and is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
Add the pomegranate molasses, simmer for 3-4 minutes until warmed through.
Remove the sauce from the heat, swirl in butter, then chocolate.
Season with salt.
Lime Kataifi:
Preheat oven to 325 F (160 C).
Brush a muffin tin (8 muffin cups) with oil.
Use a fork to spin small mounds of the kataifi into a circular shape, then transfer the mounds into the cups of the muffin tin, shaping them into the cups.
Drizzle a little melted butter over the nests to coat.
Place a 2nd muffin tin over the top and bake for 15 minutes until golden.
When ready, remove from oven and transfer to a plate.
Season with salt and grate lime zest over the pastry.
For the Pistachio Crusted Squab:
Remove the squab breasts, leaving the skin on, reserve legs and carcasses for stock.
Combine the breadcrumbs with the pistachios in a small food processor and pule to combine to a somewhat fine powder.
Make a dredging station with one plate of flour, one plate of egg, and one plate of the breadcrumb-pistachio mixture.
Dip flesh side of squab breast (keeping the skin side clear) into the flour, then the egg, then the breadcrumb-pistachio mixture, pressing well to ensure the pistachio crust sticks properly to the squab.
Season the skin side of the breast with salt and pepper.
Before Serving: heat the oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat.
Sear the squab breast in the skillet, skin side down, for 3-4 minutes, until golden and crispy.
Turn to sear the pistachio crust slowly for 2-3 minutes, use fingers to press on the sides of the breast and tilt it so that all the crust gets a little colour and crispiness.
Remove and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Sumac Locro de Zapallo:
Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat, add onion and garlic and cook for 2 minutes, until translucent.
Add squash and cook for 3 minutes, occasionally tossing to combine.
Add the corn kernels and cook for 3 minutes until lightly coloured and cooked through.
Season with salt, pepper, and sumac, then add butter, lemon juice and zest, toss, cook for 1 minute.
Add parsley, toss to combine and remove from heat. Keep warm.
Plating:
Cut the rested squab breast, pistachio side up, in half, on a bias.
Arrange 2 mounds of corn-squash mixture, one at the front of the white plate, one at the back with 3 inches (7.5 cm) in between.
Place 1 piece of squab near each portion of the corn-squash mixture, exposing the red interior, and leaving negative space between the 2.
Place 2 lime kataifi rounds on the plate, nicely, close to or over the veg.
Add small spoonfuls of sauce near the squab pieces.
The whole plating should form a straight line up and down the plate.