Guinea Fowl with Orange

Guinea Fowl with Orange is a refined dish that combines the savory flavor of guinea fowl meat with the aromatic and sweetness of oranges. Here’s the recipe for preparing this delicious main course.

Ingredients

• 1 whole guinea fowl (about 1.2 - 1.5 kg)
• 3 organic oranges (2 for the sauce and 1 for garnish)
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 sprig of rosemary
• 2 sage leaves
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• 1 glass of dry white wine
• 1 tablespoon of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Wash the oranges well and dry them. Grate the zest of one orange to obtain the peel and squeeze the juice from two oranges.
3. Prepare the guinea fowl by rubbing it both inside and out with salt, pepper, and a drizzle of oil. Insert inside the cavity of the guinea fowl a sprig of rosemary, sage leaves, and a clove of garlic.
4. In a baking dish, add a drizzle of oil and place the guinea fowl. Pour the orange juice over the guinea fowl and add the grated zest.
5. Place the guinea fowl in the oven and let it cook for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, basting it occasionally with its own sauce and the white wine. If necessary, cover with aluminum foil to prevent the skin from darkening too much.
6. Halfway through cooking, add the remaining orange wedges and the other whole garlic clove to the baking dish.
7. When the guinea fowl is cooked, transfer it to a serving dish and keep it warm.
8. To prepare the orange sauce, remove any excess fat from the baking dish and place it over medium heat. Add the sugar and vinegar and let it caramelize slightly. Then, pour in the remaining cooking juices and let it reduce until a slightly thickened sauce is obtained.
9. Strain the sauce and serve the guinea fowl with the orange sauce and caramelized orange wedges.

Curiosity

The guinea fowl is a bird highly valued in cooking for its lean and tasty meat, often used in refined recipes and on special occasions. Pairing guinea fowl with orange is a choice that recalls Mediterranean culinary tradition, which loves to combine savory meats with the freshness of citrus fruits, creating delicate and tasty contrasts.

To complete this dish, you could pair it with a full-bodied and aromatic white wine, which goes well with the sweetness of the oranges and the intensity of the guinea fowl’s meat.