How to Make a Savory Game Bird Pie with Duck Fat Crust

This savory pie features wild pheasant, potatoes, celery, and carrots seasoned with fresh herbs and red wine, all baked into a buttery, duck fat crust. The recipe includes a detailed process for preparing the pie dough, cooking the game bird, and assembling the pie. The dish is cooked using a Traeger grill, adding a smoky flavor to the ingredients.

Ingredients:

• Pie Dough: All-purpose flour, salt, chilled butter, duck fat, water.
• Main: Pheasant (or chukar or sage grouse), kosher salt, egg yolks.
• Pie Filling: Yukon gold potatoes, carrot, shallots, garlic, celery, thyme, bay leaves, cracked black pepper, juniper berries, chicken stock, red or white wine.

Steps:

1. Prepare the pie dough using a food processor and refrigerate.
2. Preheat the Traeger grill to 500˚F and grill the game bird pieces until browned.
3. In a cast iron pan, combine vegetables, herbs, and wine. Add the grilled bird pieces and chicken stock.
4. Cook on the grill at 350˚F until the bird is tender.
5. Remove bones from the bird, return the meat to the pan, and cover with pie dough.
6. Bake on the grill until the crust is golden brown.
7. Let the pie stand before serving.

Duck Fat Crust: A Rustic Delight

When the chill of autumn settles in, there's nothing quite like a hearty pie to warm the soul. This savory game bird pie, featuring wild pheasant, Yukon gold potatoes, and a buttery duck fat crust, is the perfect dish for a cozy evening. Here’s a unique twist on the traditional game bird pie, celebrating rich flavors and rustic charm.

Ingredients for a Hearty Pie

The foundation of any great pie starts with the crust. For this recipe, we elevate the crust with duck fat, which imparts a luxurious richness and flaky texture.

Pie Dough Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 stick chilled butter, cut into cubes
• 2 tablespoons duck fat
• 5 tablespoons water

Main Filling Ingredients:

• 4 pounds pheasant, chukar, or sage grouse meat, on the bone
• Kosher salt to taste
• 2 egg yolks (for brushing)

Vegetable and Herb Filling:

• 3 Yukon gold potatoes, cubed
• 1 large carrot, cubed
• 6 shallots, minced
• 6 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
• 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon cracked black pepper
• 1 tablespoon crushed juniper berries
• 1 quart chicken stock
• 1/2 cup red or white wine

Crafting the Perfect Pie Dough

Begin by making the pie dough. In a food processor, pulse the flour and salt together. Gradually add the cold butter cubes and duck fat, pulsing until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Slowly add water, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough begins to form. Shape the dough into a disc, wrap it in plastic, and refrigerate for at least an hour.

Preparing the Game Bird and Filling

Preheat your grill to 500˚F. Grill the game bird pieces until they are beautifully browned, about 15-20 minutes. Once grilled, season the bird with kosher salt and set aside.

In a cast iron pan, combine the potatoes, carrots, shallots, garlic, celery, thyme, bay leaves, cracked black pepper, juniper berries, and wine. Place the seasoned bird pieces on top and add chicken stock just up to the bird’s skin level.

Grill the assembled dish at 350˚F until the vegetables are tender and the flavors meld together, around 30 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool, remove the bones from the bird, and return the meat to the pan.

Assembling and Baking the Pie

Roll out the chilled pie dough to cover the top of the cast iron pan. Place the dough over the filling, cut slits for steam, and brush with egg yolk. Bake on the grill at 350˚F until the crust is golden brown, about 45 minutes.

Remove the pie from the grill and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before serving. This rest period allows the flavors to settle and the pie to set, ensuring each slice is as perfect as the last.

Conclusion

This game bird pie, with its succulent pheasant and rich, buttery crust, is more than just a meal—it’s a celebration of rustic flavors and hearty ingredients. Perfect for a family dinner or a special occasion, this dish brings the warmth of home-cooked comfort to your table. Enjoy the robust flavors and the satisfaction of creating a dish that’s as impressive as it is delicious.