Recipe: Orange Marmalade-Glazed Pheasant

by
posted on July 7, 2018
orangepheasant_lead.jpg

The ring-necked pheasant is a popular game bird across North America. If their cackling flush doesn’t get you excited, the succulent white flesh they offer to the table certainly will. There are liberal seasons and extra hunting opportunities on raise-and-release sites to keep you stocked with birds year-round.

Pheasants are a wonderful table bird, but like most wildfowl, tend to cook and dry out fast. One of the best ways to beat dry meat is to leave the skin and fat reserves on the bird when cooking. It means having to pluck your birds, but it is worth the extra effort in flavor and moistness. Orange marmalade is made from Seville oranges, which tend to be bitter. The preserves have some sugar to counter the bitterness, and the unique flavors work well with white-fleshed birds. Birds are best when prepped in a marinade, and more orange with tart, acidic tendencies work great when blended with natural honey and spice.

Pheasants are easy to split down the backbone with a pair of game sheers to present them spatchcock. It helps ensure even cooking for legs, thighs and breasts. You can cook whole, round birds as well.

Marinade Ingredients (per bird)
• 1 cup orange juice
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• ½ teaspoon dried rosemary

Marinade Directions
1. Combine all ingredients in a sealable bag and mix well.
2. Place pheasant in the marinade and refrigerate for 4 to 24 hours.

Glaze Ingredients
• ¾ cup orange juice
• ¼ cup orange marmalade
• 1 ½ tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon sriracha hot chili sauce
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne (or Bearded Butcher Hot Blend Seasoning)
*If you are heat sensitive leave out the cayenne

Glaze Directions
1. Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat and let simmer for 5 minutes till well blended and thickening.

Cooking Directions
1. Remove pheasant from marinade and let excess drip away.
2. Place spatchcocked pheasant ribs down on the grill. A Camp Chef SmokePro DLX offers the options to smoke and grill. With the DLX, put the pheasant on Hi Smoke for 20 minutes to add color and flavor. The grilling knob can be pulled out on the SmokePro, and the pheasant turned skin side down to grill at 450 degrees for 12 minutes. If you don’t have a smoker, place the pheasant skin-side down on a hot barbecue grill and sear at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.
3. Place half of the glaze in a foil baking pan.
4. Place seared pheasant ribs down in the baking pan, on top of the glaze.
5. Pour remainder of glaze over the pheasant and cover the pan with foil to ensure no moisture escapes. Cook for 45 minutes on the grill at 250 degrees. The pheasant will be cooked through, but stay extremely moist.
6. Serve hot in generous slices, or in halves.
7. Pour extra glaze in a gravy boat to drizzle over sliced pheasant.

Latest

Ledehenry SPD HUSH
Ledehenry SPD HUSH

Henry Repeating Arms Launches HUSH Series Optimized for Suppressor Use

Henry Repeating Arms has officially introduced the HUSH Series. This new line of suppressor-optimized lever-action rifle is the debut release from the company’s Special Products Division (SPD), a new R&D initiative focused on forward-thinking innovation.

Member's Hunt: A Tale of Two Treestands

This latest Member's Hunt comes from Erin Prajzner of Glen Rock, Pa.

New for 2025: Zeiss SFL 50 Binocular

Zeiss has presented its all-new SFL 50 binocular, an extension of the company's SFL family of binocular. It combines the optical performance of a 50 mm binocular, with the size and weight category of competitors’ 42mm frame sizes.

New for 2025: Savage AC30 B.O.B. AccuCan Suppressor

Savage introduces the AC30 B.O.B. (Back Over Barrel) suppressor, a great option for those looking to enhance balance and reduce overall firearm length while shooting suppressed.

First Look: Barnes Harvest Collection Ammunition

Barnes has debuted its Harvest Collection line of ammunition, targeted squarely at American whitetail hunters. Topped with the venerable Sierra Tipped GameKing (TGK) bullet, Barnes Harvest Collection is designed for maximal lethality on thin-skinned game, combining near match-grade accuracy with impressive terminal performance.

First Look: BANISH 30-V2

New from Banish Suppressors, the Banish 30-V2 is an upgraded version of the company’s popular Banish 30 suppressor that is shorter, lighter, quieter and more versatile than ever.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.