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Katie at the Kitchen Door

Globally-inspired, seasonal recipes

1 April 17, 2014 Food

An Easter Appetizer // Duck Fat Toasts with Quail Eggs and Asparagus Pesto

Duck Fat Toasts with Quail Eggs and Asparagus Pesto {Katie at the Kitchen Door}

Quail Eggs {Katie at the Kitchen Door}

A few weeks back Trevor and I were raiding the North Andover Market Basket on a trip home for cheap meat and ethnic produce (think yuca, hot peppers, plaintains), basically grabbing everything that’s particularly overpriced at Wholefoods and throwing it in our cart. As we strolled the aisles, I saw a container of tiny, spotted quail eggs, and for some reason had to have them. I had no idea what I was going to cook with them, but they were so delicate and pretty I knew I wanted a good reason to photograph them and share them here.

Duck Fat Toasts with Quail Eggs and Asparagus Pesto {Katie at the Kitchen Door}

Since then, every time I open the fridge the quail eggs are staring at me, questioning me. What will you make with us? Hard-boiling quail eggs seemed way too tedious for me, although I’m sure you could make an adorable plate of deviled quail eggs if you’re the patient type (the internet confirms, and with caviar nonetheless). Baking seemed inappropriate, as the whole point is their tiny cuteness, and who wants to convert “2 large eggs” into quail eggs? Basically, the only option that was both visually appealing and non-tedious was frying them, so that’s what I decided to do, although really, that only limits the recipe choices to things you would put a fried egg on, which isn’t limiting at all.

Quail Eggs {Katie at the Kitchen Door}

Since Easter is just around the corner, and eggs, particularly tiny spotted ones, are a harbinger of spring and new life (plus these quail eggs mostly just made me crave Cadbury Mini Eggs), the rest of the recipe evolved into something that would be a pretty appetizer for Easter brunch. Inspired, too, by our recent trip to Au Pied de Cochon’s Sugar Shack in Montreal, where practically every course involved duck fat, I unearthed our giant vat of duck fat from the freezer. Baguette was sliced and crisped in the duck fat, basil and asparagus were blended into pesto, and the tiny eggs were fried in the duck fat drippings. A few slices of Trevor’s home-cured guanciale (which, to be honest, I haven’t tried yet, due to fear of botulism) rounded out the springtime spread. The resulting toasts were pretty, seasonal, finger foods, that crunch and smush when you bite into them in a very satisfying way. If you’re looking for something to put out with the champagne this  Sunday that will have everyone licking their fingers, consider these.

Duck Fat Toasts with Quail Eggs and Asparagus Pesto {Katie at the Kitchen Door}

Springtime Plate - Duck Fat Toasts, Asparagus, Guanciale, Quail Eggs {Katie at the Kitchen Door}

Duck Fat {Katie at the Kitchen Door}

I should probably call out right now that I realize this recipe is a little bit ridiculous. Plain toast too boring? Add duck fat! Regular eggs too big? Find tiny quail eggs! Basil pesto been done? Add asparagus! But hey, sometimes what I want is food that’s quick and simple and sometimes I want something over the top and chef-y. And you know what? If you wanted to make this with big eggs, regular pesto, and full-sized slices of toast, it would probably be just as good. I do insist on the duck fat, though – it does magical things to toast.

Duck Fat Toasts with Quail Eggs and Asparagus Pesto {Katie at the Kitchen Door}

Duck Fat Toasts with Quail Eggs and Asparagus Pesto

Serves 6 as an appetizer.

  • 1 clove garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 c. pine nuts, lightly toasted
  • 1/2 c. cubed parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 c. olive oil
  • 10 thin stalks asparagus, woody ends trimmed
  • 3/4 c. packed basil leaves
  • 3-5 TBS duck fat
  • 1 baguette, sliced on a diagonal into at least 12 slices
  • sea salt to taste
  • 12 quail eggs
  • 12 small slices guanciale or prosciutto (optional)
  • black pepper to taste
  1. Make the pesto: add the garlic, toasted pine nuts, parmesan cheese, and olive oil to a food processor, and pulse until very finely chopped. Add the asparagus and the basil and pulse until fully blended, adding additional olive oil if needed. Set pesto aside.
  2. Heat 2 TBS of the duck fat in a frying pan over medium heat. Once melted, add as many slices of baguette as will comfortably fit in the pan. Cook until golden brown on both sides, about 2-3 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining toasts, adding more duck fat as necessary to ensure that crisp, golden outside. Lightly salt the toasts with sea salt as soon as they finish cooking. Set finished toasts aside.
  3. Lower the heat to medium-low, and let pan cool off slightly, before carefully cracking quail eggs into pan. Shells are a bit harder to crack then chicken eggs – using a knife may help you crack them neatly. Fry until whites are set, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, then carefully transfer to a plate.
  4. To assemble: spread a spoonful of pesto on each toast. If you’d like, top with a small slice of guanciale, then place one of the fried eggs on top. Grind a small amount of fresh black pepper on top. Serve within 30 minutes (you can make everything in advance except the fried eggs).

 

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Categories: Food Tags: appetizer, asparagus, basil, bread, crostini, easter, egg, pesto, spring

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. sabine says

    April 17, 2014 at 8:49 am

    Love your recipe – duck fat is really a magic ingredient, does wonders to pan fried potatoes as well!

    Reply
  2. oorlova12 says

    April 17, 2014 at 9:41 am

    Duck fat sounds more appealing than fake butter we have nowadays :( this app looks awesome! I’m a fan of pesto on everything.

    Reply
  3. laurasmess says

    April 17, 2014 at 9:54 am

    Duck fat is definitely delicious, but argh… I just can’t bring myself to use it at home. It’s my ‘going out’ indulgence, so I don’t have to feel bad about eating pure saturated animal fat! Anyway, apart from my duck fat peculiarities, this looks absolutely gorgeous. And hey, it’s Easter. Yeah, I can override my objection ;) Happy Easter Katie xx

    Reply
  4. sarahdudek80 says

    April 17, 2014 at 10:50 am

    Never thought of using duck fat at home. Might have to go do some shopping.

    Reply
  5. April Murray says

    April 17, 2014 at 3:23 pm

    Beautiful photos! Very lovely

    Reply
  6. jadeandsunday says

    April 17, 2014 at 9:00 pm

    Look at your gorgeous blog!
    So excited i found you today – looking forward to seeing your future recipes. X

    Reply
  7. Shruti says

    April 20, 2014 at 10:27 pm

    Wonderful collection of recipes, I’m vegetarian though :) Loved your photography too… Visiting your space for the 1st time and now will be a regular follower! Happy to connect… See you sometime @ http://www.cookingwithsj.com!!!

    Reply
  8. Sara says

    April 21, 2014 at 11:20 am

    Oh yum. I also have some duck fat in the freezer that (like so many things) got buried and forgotten. I remember it had a short “use by” date but it’s in the freezer so…and this is a good reminder to use it! (PS, fear of botulism is the main thing standing between me and home-cured meat projects…otherwise I’d be all over it by now. It took me long enough to conquer the fear with respect to making jam!).

    Love the new idea for asparagus, though I may have to use regular eggs rather than quail.

    Reply
  9. Eòin says

    April 21, 2014 at 7:49 pm

    Be still, my heart.

    Reply
  10. Meg says

    April 25, 2014 at 10:06 am

    Adore your blog Katie! As a fellow Bostonian- I am SO happy to see a beautiful food blog- they are hard to come by in New England for some reason. I am off to buy a duck and figure out how to render duck fat right now! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply

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