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- 2 oranges
- 45g butter
- A handful of thyme
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
- 150g buckwheat
- 1 fennel bulb
- 250g wild partridge breasts
- A handful of sage, leaves only
- 50g watercress
- Sea salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- 300ml boiling water
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1.
Finely zest the oranges, then slice off the peel and white pith. Use a small, sharp knife to slice the orange segments out of the thin papery membranes. Pick the thyme leaves off their sprigs (if they are woody you can push the sprigs through a sieve and the leaves will collect in it).
- 2.
Add the butter to a small pan and melt over a medium heat. Tip in the orange segments and the zest, thyme leaves, 1 tbsp each honey and mustard and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for 8-10 mins, stirring occasionally, till the oranges are soft. Roughly crush the segments with the back of a spoon. Set aside with the lid on to keep warm.
- 3.
While the sauce cooks, pour the buckwheat into a pan and cover with 300ml boiling water. Put a lid on the pan, bring back to a simmer and cook for 8-10 mins till tender. Drain off any excess water if necessary and tip back into the pan. Set aside, with the lid on.
- 4.
While the buckwheat simmers, trim the dry tips off the fennel (save any soft, feathery fronds). Thinly slice the fennel bulb.
- 5.
Pour 1 tbsp oil into a frying pan and warm over a medium-high heat. Season the partridge breasts with salt and pepper. Fry for 2-3 mins on each side, till golden and cooked through. Transfer to a warm plate to rest. Loosely cover with foil.
- 6.
Slide the fennel into the frying pan and fry for 3-4 mins, stirring occasionally, till slightly caramelised. Stir in the sage leaves and cook for a further 1-2 mins.
- 7.
Spoon the buckwheat onto 2 serving plates. Top with the watercress, partridge breasts and fennel. Serve with the warm orange and thyme sauce.
- Tip
You've got some sauce
This recipe will make more orange sauce than you will need to accompany your partridge. Keep any leftover in the fridge for up to 5 days. Warm through before serving. Delicious swirled through gravy to add zing and sweetness.