Quail Wontons
Delectable quail wonton dumplings topped with chili crisp and green onions make a great appetizer or sharable upland dish
I’ve been bird hunting for 25 years, and I can honestly say I’ve failed to eat what I killed only a handful of times. Sometimes, the birds are too shot up. Only once or twice have I forgotten a bird in the bottom of a game pouch. For the most part, I’ve held up my end of the bargain and showed reverence for the lives I’ve extinguished in my pursuits afield. The dishes I’ve created out of them, however, have not always been great. Cooking is the same as bird hunting in that there’s a learning curve; the only way to get good at it is time plus repetition, and there’s always something new to learn.
This quail dumpling recipe was born out of a quest to replace the ubiquitous popper that so often finds its way into a potluck spread when a hunter is present at the said gathering. Not to hate on the popper; we’ve all gotta start somewhere, but we hunters can do better. Next time you serve your game birds to a crowd, make this recipe. I promise they’ll be the first thing gone from the buffet table.
