Whole roast pigeon with peaches, turnips and sage – recipes and wine pairings

This is an extremely easy recipe to follow at home. Bursting with bold flavours and original combinations. The subtle sweetness of ripe peaches combined with the delicate earthiness of the turnips brings this roast to another dimension.

Ingredients:

• 2 whole wood pigeon

• 2 tbsp butter

• 1 sprig of thyme

• 2 juicy peaches (or nectarines)

• 4 medium sized turnips

• 2 baby gem lettuce

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 garlic clove

• 4 finely chopped sage leaves

• 250ml of chicken stock (or water)

• Salt and pepper

Method:

1 Preheat your oven to 175 degrees C

2 Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium to high heat. Place the pigeons, breast-side down into the pan, and turn every 3 minutes to evenly sear and achieve a golden colour all over. Then transfer the birds, breast-side up into a roasting tray. Season the pigeons with salt and pepper and fill its cavity with a sprig of thyme, crush garlic clove and tablespoon of butter. Depending on the size of the birds, roast for 10 to 12 minutes.

3 When cooked; remove from the oven and let the meat rest for at least 5 minutes before carving.

Wines to match with roast pigeon

Roast wood pigeon needs a mature but flavorful red wine. I think a Bordeaux wine would do wonders for this delicious game dish. The 2012 Château Liversan Haut-Medoc delivers ripe blackberry aromas with a delicate smoky finish which truly complements the roasted pigeon. Excellent value for money.

Slightly younger, the Crozes-Hermitage, Domaine des Lises, Domaine Maxime Graillot 2013 delivers generous fruity aromas. This 100% Syrah from the Rhône region also provides hints of tapenade and red fruit; which elegantly supplements the original garnish in this recipe.

Finally, one of the UK’s best loved red wines and a superb match for pigeon: Rioja. More specifically the Muga Selección Especial, Gran Reserve 2010. The Tempranillo grapes that are aged in barrels deliver just the right balance between smokiness and dark fruit flavours. A perfect match for game birds in general.

Translated by Leo / 孔祥鑫