How to Make Quail Recipes in an Air Fryer

Author: Jenny J Brown
August 12, 2023

How would you describe quail recipes? They might seem exotic or intimidating, but they aren't at all. Instead, they're super simple to prepare and cook. In this article, I will share my favorite recipe for grilled quail breasts with a side of roasted vegetables.

The term quail refers to a group of birds from the genus Coturnix native to Europe and Asia. These tiny birds are typically sold life, requiring little handling before cooking.

Recipe-1

Quail Recipes
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Ingredients

  • Six whole quails (cut the backbone so quails lay flat; rinse and pat dry)
  • One heaping tablespoon of oyster sauce
  • Two teaspoons of granulated sugar
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon Chinese Five Spice Powder
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon onion powder
  • Four tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
  • Two tablespoons of lemon juice
  • One teaspoon of sea salt
  • 1⁄2 ground black or white pepper
  • Lettuce
  • Vietnamese coriander/mint
  • Lemon Salt Pepper Dipping Sauce (optional)
  • Vegetables (optional)

Instructions

Put the dry ingredients into a small bowl. Stir them together well.

To get the best flavor, marinate the quails in the marinade for at least an hour, preferably overnight.

The quails in the marinade should be coated in melted butter just before air frying.

To prevent food from adhering to your oven's interior, spray a light coating of vegetable shortening over it. You can bake the marinated quail breasts for 15-20 minutes at 350°F. Toss a 180-degree turn in the middle. Air-fried the marinated quails for 20-30 minutes @ 400°F. In the middle, turn it over.

Quail can be served over a bed of lettuce, Vietnamese coriander, or mint leaves, with a side of lemon-salt-and-pepper dipping sauce (optional).

Recipe-2

Ingredients

  • 8-16 quail, halved
  • 2.25 ounces of buttermilk
  • Two teaspoons of Italian spice, or the equivalent in minced fresh herbs like oregano, thyme, and parsley, measuring up to 1/3 cup
  • Paprika, 2 Tablespoons
  • a single spoonful of garlic powder
  • Spicy: 1 teaspoon of cayenne
  • Two teaspoons of salt
  • 1 cup of flour
  • Three cups of vegetable oil.

Instructions

Put the buttermilk into a bowl and mix all the spices except the salt. Then coat the quails with the mixture and let them marinate for as little as an hour and up to 8 hours.

When you're ready to cook, put the oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven and turn the stove up to high. Make sure the oil comes close to covering the quail halves. They need to be submerged in hot oil. You want the oil to almost submerge the quail halves.

While you're waiting for the quails to cook, put the buttermilks aside. Don't shake them up or anything; just set them aside.

Pour the olive and vegetable oils into a large skillet set over medium-high.

Sprinkle the breadcrumbs evenly across the bottom of the pan.

Add the chicken breasts and cook for 5 minutes per side or until golden brown.

Remove the chicken from the pan and place it on a plate lined with paper towels.

Add the garlic and onion to the pan and saute for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Return the chicken to the pan and add the tomatoes, tomato paste, thyme, bay leaves, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the temperature to low and simmer for 30 minutes, uncovered.

Stir in the basil and parsley just before serving. Do not let the oil smoke. When the oil is hot, pour the flour and salt into a plastic bag and shake to combine.

Put a few quail into the bag and shake to get it coated in flour.

Fry for about 4–5 minutes. Fry gently — avoid anything too hot, and keep an eye on the temperature, so it doesn't burn. Don't let the quails just cook in the oil; they should be able to move around a bit.

Turn the quail over and fry for another 3 to 4 minutes. You will probably need to fry them in batches, so leave the unfried quail in the colander until you are ready to flour them up and fry them. Don't let the floured pieces sit.

Let the quails cool down before serving. They're best served when they're warm but not too hot.

Note: To ensure your quails are extra crispy, don't put them directly into the flour bag after they've been coated with batter. Instead, wait for the flour to absorb some of the moisture from the batter before putting them into the flour bag.

Recipe-3

Ingredients

  • 1/2 tsp of salt
  • 1 tsp of chicken powder
  • 1/2 tsp of sugar
  • 1/2 tsp of Five Spices Powder
  • 1/4 tsp of ground pepper
  • 1 tbsp of soy sauce/seasoning, such as Maggie
  • 1 tbsp of oyster sauce
  • cooking oil/olive oil
  • 3 tbsp of butter
  • 1 tbsp of minced garlic
  • One bundle of watercress
  • a handful of Vietnamese coriander
  • salt and pepper
  • a few lime wedges
  • Six quails

Instruction

Combine all the marinade components in a large bowl. Toss the cleaned halved quail pieces well. Let them marinate for at least one hour or longer.

Place the quails in an air fryer, brush them lightly with olive oils, and season them with sea salts and black pepper. Brush lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place in the air fryer and heat to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) with a cooking cycle of 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Turn halfway through cooking. Serve immediately.

Rub a thin layer (about 1/4 inch) of olive or vegetable shortening on the chicken breasts and season them with salt and pepper. Place the chicken breasts into the air fryer basket and close the lid. Set the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and let the chicken bake for 15 minutes.

Turn the chicken breasts over and continue baking for another 10 minutes. Remove the chicken breasts from the air fryer and place them on paper towels to absorb any excess grease. Serve immediately.

Melt three tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Tear off pieces of bread and place them in the skillet. When they start to brown, stir in 1 tablespoon of minced garlic. Once fragrant, toss the quails into the pan and mix well.

Serve the salad on a watercress bed and a few Vietnamese coriander leaves. Dip into a simple dressing made from salt, pepper, and fresh lemon juice.

Nutrition Information

Quail is a small bird that's native to Eurasia and North America. It's considered a delicacy in many countries, including France and Italy. The meat is somewhat gamey and tends to be very lean—it's high in protein and low in fat, which makes it perfect for those who are watching their weight or trying to eat healthily.

Quail is also rich in iron (a mineral that most people don't get enough of) as well as B vitamins such as niacin and vitamin B6—two nutrients that help you form new red blood cells.

In addition, omega-3 fatty acids may reduce inflammation throughout your body by decreasing the production of prostaglandins (hormone-like chemicals), according to WebMD.

Different ways of cooking quail in the air fryer

The air fryer is one of the fastest ways to cook quail. It's easy, too—just add some spices and herbs, set your temperature, and wait for its beep.

There are several different ways to cook quail in the air fryer. The first method involves placing your quail breast-side down on a wire rack inside of a large skillet with 1/2 cup of water.

This will allow heat from below to cook both sides evenly as well as give you even browning on top (which isn't possible if you simply bake them). You can also place them directly into the steamer basket without any water at all for ultimate crispiness.

The second type uses a sheet pan instead of a rack; this helps keep everything in place, so nothing falls off while cooking or cooling down afterward.

A Healthy Food

Quail is a great alternative to chicken and makes for a good source of protein. It can be prepared in a variety of ways, but one popular way of preparing it is by air frying quail. Air-fried quail recipes are not only simple, but they're also delicious.

Air-fried quail has many health benefits, including being high in iron and other nutrients that help fight anemia, among other things. Quail is also easy to cook in an air fryer and makes for an excellent snack or light meal that's sure to satisfy your taste buds.

How to Make Quail Recipes in an Air Fryer [FAQs]

1. How long does it take to thaw quail?

Quail takes about 15 minutes to thaw, depending upon how cold they were when frozen.

2. Which cooking method is best for quail?

The oven is better for cooking quail because it gives them a crispy skin. If you bake quail at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes per pound, they should be cooked until no pink remains inside the meat. This means the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. What goes best with quail?

Quail is a great dish for entertaining guests. The beauty of quail is that they can be prepared quickly using ingredients that are easy to find at any grocery store. They also taste great when served with fresh vegetables.

4. Do you need to soak quail before cooking?

If you want to cook a whole chicken, you do need to soak the quail in water for at least 30 minutes before cooking. This removes any dirt from the feathers and helps keep them clean during cooking. Quails are small birds that weigh between 9-14 grams each. They are native to South America and Central America.

5. Can quail be undercooked?

Quails can be cooked properly. However, they should never be overcooked. The best way to cook them is to place them into a pan and cover them with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit covered for another 10 minutes. Serve immediately.

Conclusion

Quail is a slice of tasty, lean meat that can be prepared in many different ways. It's also a great source of protein and B vitamins. Quail is low in fat but high in protein and iron, making it an ideal choice for those looking to cut calories while still getting enough nutrients from their diet. You can also check our turkey cutlet recipe Click here.

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