Stuffed Quail and Packing Pains
Friday, November 16th, 2007Filed Under Good with Drinks, India - Kerala, Mains, Quail
Let me come out and say it, I am the worst packer in the world! Packing light is not a concept I am familiar with. Normally for each day of the vacation, I pack 2-3 outfits - An outfit for the day time activities, a dress for the fancy dinner, and a backup just in case I don’t feel like wearing outfit #1. Then I throw in a few extra ones at the end, in case my size goes up or down during the trip. 
And shoes - a pair of black boots, a pair of brown boots, two pairs of evening shoes, sometimes a walking shoe. Things are so much easier in summer, most pieces are pretty tiny, and no need for boots. But imagine packing like this for a winter trip, when a few jackets and coats need to be thrown in to the mix!
Why am I thinking of packing now? We are off to Spain next weekend for a 12 day vacation. With euro being so strong right now, we are planning on ditching cabs and taking advantage of the public transport system a lot once we are there. So lugging four heavy suitcases is out of question. I somehow need to optimize and pack light, but the whole process is so dreadful. I am totally stressing out here… Any packing tips, (other than telling me to pack 2 jeans, three T-shirts and do laundry there… ) will be greatly appreciated.
Anyway, the mental agony of packing is not the reason I haven’t posted a recipe in a while. I have been horribly sick, the kind of illness that makes you lose your appetite, and chains you to the bed. Siv has been taking care of me, but no heavy cooking in this house this week.
If I am home and don’t post anything at least once in three days, I start getting withdrawal symptoms. So, today I went into my archives for a worthy picture, and came across the stuffed quail. This one didn’t make it, because I thought the quail looked like a dead person in the pics. That is not a very appetizing thing to say in a food blog now, is it? But I figured that the statement/picture is not going to convert a quail lover into a quail hater, neither is this recipe going to make someone who doesn’t like quail suddenly crave for one. So, for those who already love quail, here is one recipe perfect for dinner parties.
Ingredients
- 6 whole quails
- 1-2 tbsp oil
- For the marinade
- 1 tbsp red chilli powder
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 tbsp ginger paste
- Salt to taste
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp oil
- 3 tbsp pine nuts
- 1 tbsp chopped raisins
- 2 tbsp thinly sliced green onions
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced shallots
- 1 tbsp thinly sliced green chilies
- 1 tsp red chili powder
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- Salt to taste
Method
Clean and skin the quails. Skinning a whole quail is kind of a tedious process, be very careful not to break the bones, or you can leave the skin on. Sometimes there will be small feathers stuck to the skin, make sure you pluck all those off.
Mix all the ingredients in the first set to make a paste, and apply liberally on the birds in and out. Marinate for about an hour.
Heat a large frying pan (which will be used to sear the quail in the next step), toast the pine nuts, remove and keep aside.
Add a little oil to frying pan, carefully sear the birds one by one or more at a time, depending on the size of the pan. We just want to flash fry the outside, not actually cook the birds completely, so give about 2-3 minutes per bird. Add more oil in between if needed.
In the same pan, add more oil if needed, and add the shallots, green chilies and raisins and saute till brown. Reduce the heat and add chili powder and pepper powder and saute for about a minute. Add the green onion slices, salt and toasted pine nuts and mix well till the green onions are wilted. Remove from the heat.
Pre-heat the oven to 375F.
Stuff the cavities of each quail tightly with the prepared stuffing. Arrange the birds on a greased baking dish, spray some oil on the birds and roast for about 35-45 minutes.
Serve warm, with some fresh lemon squeezed over and with a side salad.
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32 Responses to “Stuffed Quail and Packing Pains”
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Glad to know that you’re better now.I too am not a light packer at all… one of the things that me and Dinesh always debate about…so don’t expect much from me…you’ll probably end up packing even more
…but all the best with it and enjoy your trip…btw, I do love that recipe.
Hey hey
Hang on a second, u saw a post recently going to San Fransisco n now Spain!You are one lucky girl!! Plan UK as well dear we can have the most amazing time ever!!!
packing light, never my thing, I tend to take what all i have just in case you know or end up buying a new wardrobe all together.
Have a great great time and enjoy!!!
Sorry, I was about to tell you about the jeans and T-shirt
Have a lovely time in Spain!
hey sig, you’d better feel on top of the world and enjoy spain…i’m called by my “going abroad” friends often enough to pack for them, i was going to give you the jeans, tshirts, couple of dresses, nightclothes, one jacket, one shawl/light sweater, 2 pairs of shoes bit….but i wont
i feel its much easier for winter trip as my long jacket covers me from top to bottom
have fun in spain… i am waiting for my vac as well
to be honest i was planning to email and ask..where the hell u are
..sorry that u were not well..if something makes u lose appetite..that is serious 
..take care..rest and chill out coz u want to freak out when u hit spain!! have a great vacation gal..and tell us all about it when u are back 
…..and about packing ..i think i am ur akka on that one..i truely suck..i carry many bags of different sizes and look..coz what if i feel like…hint hint… he he he 
well while the dish looks good…I don’t want to comment on the packing stuff…I am light traveler..and even if I think I should take something extra..hubby would stop me…
Sig, hope you are feeling better, you better before you take the trip. My philosophy is if we do miss something can always buy it there, not good for the wallet but good for the mind
I love quails and this looks delicious but I need to find someplace to buy quail first.
awww you’ve not been well??? take lotsa rest before the trip… my packing advise is… pack 2 -3 pieces of clothing for each day… a skirt and a top…a jean and a blouse…. for each day… and a backup plan can be swapping the tops for another’s days blouse etc…a mix n match strategy…. also keep neutral bottoms that can be reworn with different tops…makign yourself and others feel that you are wearing diff clothes each day. thereby reducing the number of total clothing…. hope all this talking off the top of my head is making sense…..
and wow…spain …..wooooow…its one place i missed on my euro tour…. have a blast and take lotsa pictures ….of everything and the food
I hate packing for four and unpacking!!
Have a great time in Spain. We were in Malaga region for a week, it’s almost like being in India but lot less people!Beautiful people too!:D
Never cooked with Quail, looks gourmet. YUM!:))
hope u feel better soon! r u able to atleast take in soups? take care,hugs to ya!
can u cut down on the shoes? that will definitely save some precious real estate in the bags 
i too hv similar packing woes, but jeans with multiple tops always works for me
That looks so yummy and tempting. Good luck with your packing and have a fun trip. I’m in the same boots as you when it comes to packing.
Wow the dish look so delicious. And the filling is so wonderfull.
So you are off to spain enjoy there. I have never been to spain but my hubby says it is wonderful there. Especially the Tappas Bars.
Hey and join the clup i too can never travel light.
Take care, Sig. Have fun in Spain
Regarding packing- no tips from me. I’m the kind of person who has “luggage” even when i go to work!
I’ve eaten that quail and it was lip-smacking delicious. Glad you decided to post the recipe. And your standards must be terribly high Sig…that picture looks fabulous. Are you making it again tomorrow night
hey…hope u re getting better….am sure Siv is pampering u a lot
Btw, packing tip…hehhe…why do u want to pack everything from here…go to spain and so some shopping there…in the IN-thing there
you get to buy new clothes and no pain of heavy luggage too 
Howzzat ?:)
Shn
sig, bon voyage! enjoy your trip!!
i am also looking forward to some continent hopping in the coming months… :))
stuffed quail looks so tasty
how come i dont have anything in my drafts that serves as a quick fix like this?
have been out of action for really long..
have a fun vacation and good luck with the packing
Sig, hope you are feeling better now. I fell sick a cpl. of days back too
hey, your packing habits remind me of my sister 
she has to have atleast 5-6 pairs of shoes for a 3-4 days trip 
Hope you have lotsa’ fun in Spain- my buddy MD was there recently and she said that Public Transport is pretty good there so you shouldn’t have any problem. As for the food, i love the way it looks 
hugs n’ love,
musical.
Happy holidays Sig. Enjoy your trip.
No tips from me too, because I pack only those items which are necessary + 2-3 extra tops. Usually one pair per day and I don’t care about shoes. To sum up in short, I have no dress sense at all…
wow! Spain sounds like lotta fun Sig!! we are still in the first phase of planning for our Europe trip sometime mid next year…will be nice to have some pointers from you:)
Ahhhhhhhh Spain…get well fast, pack light and go quick. Have some good food and DON’T PACK. GO BUY THERE
Each day buy 3 dresses and donate them at the end of the day :d
Only problem i see here is the euro is strong, maybe just wear and return then
Sorry to hear your are not well hon. Hope you get better in time for the vacation.
About the packing tips? Well, you said: “(other than telling me to pack 2 jeans, three T-shirts…) so I am not going to offer any advice
Hope you are doing much better now. Have fun in spain! Even i over pack
Never cooked with quail. Have a safe trip.
Hi Sig, Hope you r better now.Even I am not a light packer…I think almost pretty much same like you and carry 3-4 sets per day! so I doubt I can help you in that!Enjoyed reading your post though! All the Best foryour trip!
Whoa! Spain! I’m jealous! It has been 7 years since I was there, now you’ve gotten me thirsting for another trip
Hey, get well. Hmm … packing tips … I usually go by the 2 jeans + 3 tshirts rule
One idea might be to grab some clothes from ExOfficio (in Belltown) - they have really cool crush-free, yet good-looking travel clothes than can be reworn several times.
As re: packing, Im a terribly confused packer myself - feel very jealous when I see S doing a perfect packing for himself in 15 minutes, but then guys always have it easy na - I’m sure you’ll do a great job, just post a pick of your loaded suitcase when you’re done
And my only advice take an extra bag to bring back all your shopping
Lotsa hugs and have a blast!
Hye Sig, hope u r better now.. and btw, I thought you just got back from SFO!!?!?!? and u r already planning another vacation…. thats gr8!!! have fun,girl!!
and tk gud care of urself
Have a great time in spain..
Even I would suggest to think about each day as to what u are really going to wear.. have a rough idea on dress and the matching shoe.. then you will have a defenite idea on which all dresses and which all shoes you need to take, instead of dumping few dresses and few shoes.(ofcourse think of mix and match strategy in case of dress..)
ohhh packing light… i think i was an elaborate packer too.. until i had a baby. now of course its elaborate still.. but with all baby stuff. i realised that when i had to go to my parents place for a weekend.. and i put some stuff in a backpack and i was done. we went for a wedding, there was an entire suitcase of stuff for my baby daughter (maybe it would have been a fourth of it if it were a son) can u believe i packed 4 pairs of shoes for just her. and i had 2.. including the one i wore on the flight.
and i’m not even going to begin to talk about my hubby offering to share a suitcase everytime.
Mix and match, baby! But what I do know about clothes! You need to have clothes other than pyjamas to understand clothes! Have a great time in Spain!
Never cooked quail. Now you have me undecided between quail and cornish hens, which I have never cooked either!
Thanks everyone, for the lovely words, and the suggestions for travelling light…
I will keep all these in mind, when I actually start the packing process… which I still haven’t gotten around to… See how lazy I’ve been, I am not even replying to individual comments. I really apologize for that, but please do note that I read and appreciate each and every comment. Hugs to all of you!