Slow Cook Grouse Recipes: How to Enjoy This Wild Game Bird

Hello, Good News! If you’re looking for some delicious and easy ways to prepare grouse, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll show you how to slow cook grouse recipes that will make your mouth water and your guests happy.

Grouse is a type of game bird that is hunted for sport and food. It has a dark, rich, and slightly gamey flavor that is unlike any other poultry. Grouse can be found in many heathland areas across the UK and are particularly prevalent in Scotland. Grouse season runs from August to December, with the first day of the season known as the ‘Glorious Twelfth’.

Why Slow Cook Grouse?

One of the challenges of cooking grouse is that it can be tough and dry if not cooked properly. Grouse is a lean bird that has very little fat, so it needs to be cooked carefully to prevent it from losing moisture and becoming chewy. One of the best ways to cook grouse is to slow cook it, either in a slow cooker, a pot, or an oven.

Slow cooking grouse has many benefits, such as:

• It tenderizes the meat and makes it fall off the bone.
• It enhances the flavor and aroma of the bird and the herbs and spices used.
• It allows you to use cheaper cuts of grouse, such as legs and thighs, that are more flavorful but tougher than breasts.
• It saves you time and effort, as you can just set it and forget it.
• It creates a rich and savory sauce or gravy that can be served with the meat or used for other dishes.

How to Slow Cook Grouse in a Slow Cooker

A slow cooker is a convenient and versatile appliance that can cook almost anything, including grouse. Here are some tips on how to slow cook grouse in a slow cooker:

• Clean and pat dry the grouse pieces. You can use whole birds or cut them into quarters or halves.
• Season the grouse with salt, pepper, and any other herbs and spices you like. You can also coat them with flour for extra browning and thickening.
• Brown the grouse in a skillet over medium-high heat with some butter or oil on all sides. This will seal in the juices and add more flavor.
• Transfer the grouse to the slow cooker and add some liquid, such as chicken broth, wine, beer, or water. You can also add some vegetables, such as onions, carrots, celery, mushrooms, or potatoes.
• Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the meat is tender and cooked through.
• Remove the grouse from the slow cooker and keep warm. You can either serve the sauce as it is or thicken it with some cornstarch or flour mixed with water.

How to Slow Cook Grouse in a Pot

If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can still slow cook grouse in a pot on the stovetop or in the oven. Here are some tips on how to slow cook grouse in a pot:

• Clean and pat dry the grouse pieces. You can use whole birds or cut them into quarters or halves.
• Season the grouse with salt, pepper, and any other herbs and spices you like. You can also coat them with flour for extra browning and thickening.
• Brown the grouse in a large ovenproof pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat with some butter or oil on all sides. This will seal in the juices and add more flavor.
• Add some liquid, such as chicken broth, wine, beer, or water. You can also add some vegetables, such as onions, carrots, celery, mushrooms, or potatoes.
• Cover and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat and simmer on low for 2 to 3 hours on the stovetop or bake in a preheated oven at 160°C/320°F for 2 to 3 hours in the oven, until the meat is tender and cooked through.
• Remove the grouse from the pot and keep warm. You can either serve the sauce as it is or thicken it with some cornstarch or flour mixed with water.

How to Slow Cook Grouse in an Oven

If you prefer to roast your grouse, you can still slow cook it in an oven to make it moist and tender. Here are some tips on how to slow cook grouse in an oven:

• Clean and pat dry the grouse pieces. You can use whole birds or cut them into quarters or halves.
• Season the grouse with salt, pepper, and any other herbs and spices you like. You can also stuff the cavity with some aromatics, such as lemon, garlic, thyme, or rosemary.
• Place the grouse in a roasting pan or a baking dish and add some butter or oil on top. You can also add some liquid, such as chicken broth, wine, beer, or water, to the bottom of the pan to create some steam and prevent the bird from drying out.
• Cover the pan with foil and roast in a preheated oven at 180°C/350°F for 1 to 1.5 hours, basting occasionally with the juices.
• Uncover the pan and increase the oven temperature to 200°C/400°F. Roast for another 15 to 20 minutes, until the skin is crispy and golden.
• Remove the grouse from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before carving. You can either serve the juices as they are or make a gravy by simmering them with some flour and water.

Slow Cook Grouse Recipes to Try

Now that you know how to slow cook grouse, you might be wondering what kind of recipes you can make with it. Here are some of our favorite slow cook grouse recipes that you can try at home:

Slow Cooker Grouse with Mushroom and Onion Gravy

This is a simple and comforting dish that pairs well with mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles. The mushroom and onion gravy adds a lot of flavor and richness to the tender grouse meat.

To make this recipe, you will need:

• 4 grouse breasts
• 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 8 ounces of mushrooms, sliced
• 2 cups of chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons of water
• Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

To prepare this recipe, follow these steps:

1. Season the grouse breasts with salt and pepper and coat them with flour. Shake off any excess flour.
2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter and brown the grouse on both sides for about 10 minutes. Transfer to a 6-quart slow cooker.
3. Add the onion, mushrooms, and chicken broth to the same skillet and bring to a boil. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
4. Pour the onion-mushroom mixture over the grouse in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours.
5. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water until smooth. Stir into the slow cooker and cook on high for another 15 minutes or until thickened.
6. Sprinkle with parsley if desired and serve hot.

Pot Roast Grouse with Brandy, Tarragon, and Wild Mushrooms

This is a sophisticated and elegant dish that showcases the flavor of grouse and wild mushrooms. The brandy and tarragon add a touch of sweetness and freshness to the rich sauce.

To make this recipe, you will need:

• 2 whole grouse
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 4 tablespoons of butter
• 4 shallots, peeled and chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped
• 1/4 cup of brandy
• 2 cups of chicken broth
• 2 sprigs of fresh tarragon
• 8 ounces of wild mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
• 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons of water
• Fresh tarragon leaves for garnish (optional)

To prepare this recipe, follow these steps:

1. Season the grouse with salt and pepper inside and out. Tie the legs together with kitchentwine and tuck the wings under the body.
2. In a large ovenproof pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, heat the oil and brown the grouse on all sides for about 15 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
3. In the same pot, melt 2 tablespoons of butter and cook the shallots and garlic until soft, about 10 minutes. Add the brandy and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
4. Add the chicken broth and tarragon sprigs and bring to a boil. Return the grouse to the pot and cover with a lid or foil.
5. Transfer the pot to a preheated oven at 160°C/320°F and bake for 2 hours, turning the grouse halfway through.
6. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and cook the mushrooms until golden, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Remove the grouse from the oven and transfer to a platter. Keep warm.
8. Strain the cooking liquid into a saucepan and bring to a boil. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water until smooth. Stir into the saucepan and cook until thickened, about 5 minutes.
9. Spoon some of the sauce over the grouse and serve with the mushrooms. Garnish with tarragon leaves if desired.

Slow Cooker Grouse Curry with Coconut Milk

This is a spicy and aromatic dish that will warm you up on a cold day. The coconut milk adds a creamy and smooth texture to the curry sauce, while the grouse meat becomes tender and succulent.

To make this recipe, you will need:

• 4 grouse legs
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon of grated ginger
• 2 teaspoons of curry powder
• 1 teaspoon of turmeric
• 1 teaspoon of cumin
• 1 teaspoon of coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon of cardamom
• 1/4 teaspoon of cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 can (400 ml) of coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons of water
• Fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)

To prepare this recipe, follow these steps:

1. Season the grouse legs with salt and pepper. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil and brown the grouse on all sides for about 10 minutes. Transfer to a 6-quart slow cooker.
2. In the same skillet, cook the onion, garlic, ginger, curry powder, turmeric, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, salt, and pepper until soft and fragrant, about 15 minutes. Stir in the bay leaf, coconut milk, and tomato paste and bring to a boil.
3. Pour the onion-coconut mixture over the grouse in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water until smooth. Stir into the slow cooker and cook on high for another 15 minutes or until thickened.
5. Sprinkle with cilantro if desired and serve hot with rice or naan bread.

A Detailed Table Breakdown Related to Slow Cook Grouse Recipes

To help you compare different slow cook grouse recipes, we have created a detailed table breakdown that shows some key information about each recipe. The table includes:

• The name of the recipe
• The number of servings it makes
• The total cooking time (including prep time)
• The main ingredients (excluding seasonings)
• The calories per serving (based on an online calculator)

The table is shown below:

| Recipe Name | Servings | Total Cooking Time | Main Ingredients | Calories per Serving |
| — | — | — | — | — |
| Slow Cooker Grouse with Mushroom and Onion Gravy | 4 | 8 hours and 30 minutes | Grouse breasts, onion, mushrooms, chicken broth | 385 |
| Pot Roast Grouse with Brandy, Tarragon, and Wild Mushrooms | 4 | 3 hours and 15 minutes | Whole grouse, shallots, garlic, brandy, chicken broth, tarragon, wild mushrooms | 520 |
| Slow Cooker Grouse Curry with Coconut Milk | 4 | 8 hours and 30 minutes | Grouse legs, onion, garlic, ginger, coconut milk, tomato paste | 440 |

FAQs about Slow Cook Grouse Recipes

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about slow cook grouse recipes and their answers:

How do I choose a good grouse?

When buying grouse, look for birds that are plump and firm, with smooth and shiny skin. Avoid birds that are bruised, discolored, or have a strong odor. You can also check the date on the package and choose the freshest ones. If you’re hunting your own grouse, make sure to follow the legal and ethical guidelines and clean and dress the birds properly.

How do I store grouse?

Grouse can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Make sure to wrap them well in plastic or foil to prevent freezer burn. Thaw frozen grouse in the refrigerator overnight before cooking.

Can I use other types of game birds instead of grouse?

Yes, you can use other types of game birds instead of grouse, such as pheasant, quail, partridge, or duck. However, keep in mind that different birds have different sizes, flavors, and cooking times, so you may need to adjust the recipes accordingly.

Can I use other types of liquids instead of chicken broth?

Yes, you can use other types of liquids instead of chicken broth, such as beef broth, vegetable broth, water, wine, beer, or cider. However, keep in mind that different liquids have different flavors and acidity levels, so you may need to adjust the seasonings accordingly.

Can I add other vegetables or fruits to the slow cook grouse recipes?

Yes, you can add other vegetables or fruits to the slow cook grouse recipes, such as potatoes, carrots, celery, turnips, apples, pears, or cranberries. However, keep in mind that different vegetables and fruits have different textures and sweetness levels, so you may need to adjust the cooking times and sugar amounts accordingly.

How do I know when the grouse is done?

The best way to know when the grouse is done is to use a meat thermometer and check the internal temperature of the thickest part of the meat. The safe minimum temperature for poultry is 74°C/165°F. You can also check the color and texture of the meat. The meat should be white or light pink and tender enough to pull apart easily.

How do I carve a whole grouse?

To carve a whole grouse, follow these steps:

1. Cut off the legs by slicing through the joint where they meet the body.
2. Cut off the wings by slicing through the joint where they meet the body.
3. Cut off the breast meat by slicing along the breastbone and then cutting across the grain.
4. Cut off any remaining meat from the carcass.

How do I reheat leftover grouse?

To reheat leftover grouse, follow these steps:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F.
2. Place the grouse in a baking dish and cover with foil.
3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through.
4. If you have any sauce or gravy left over, reheat it in a saucepan over low heat until simmering.

What can I serve with slow cook grouse recipes?

You can serve slow cook grouse recipes with a variety of side dishes, such as mashed potatoes,
rice,
noodles,
bread,
salad,
roasted vegetables,
or fruit compote.
You can also serve some wine or beer that matches the flavor of the dish.

What are some health benefits of eating grouse?

Grouse is a lean source of protein that can help build and repair muscles.