Ruffed grouse: rate for the table & post a recipe

[Luigi Daniele]

Wondering what you all think.
1. How does ruffed grouse rate as table fare on the 1-10 scale? 1=rotted road kill; 10=sublime and

2. Post a recipe, please.

 

[fishmunkee]

10
Salt/pepper breasts and grill - be sure not to overcook.

 

[California Flyway]

Wonderful table fare. I was going to college in southeastern Ohio at the peak of a Ruffed Grouse cycle in the late sixties. Me and my close working Springer used to hunt in the morning before classes and walk up five or six birds. I had a nice handling Ithaca double with 26 inch IC/mod barrels. I would put on Grouse feeds for my college friends who did not know how good they had it, and probably never ate them again. Growing up hunting Ruffed Grouse taught me how to be a good wing shot.
I recommend hanging for a few days and always pluck Grouse to taste the the delicious skin. A simple braising or Splatchcock cooking method works well. Do not overcook and do not add too many ingredients (maybe a little white wine and herbs) to overwhelm their flavor.
I have hunted Spruce Grouse and some Ruffs here in California but perhaps because of diet with the Ruffs, they did not taste as good as those from southern Ohio. The Spruces were not nearly as good as the Ruffs.

 

[Thinblueline]

In my opinion, ruffed grouse is the finest tasting game bird there is….period. I’ve eaten ducks, geese, woodcock, doves, pheasants, bobwhite quail, chukars, and I think a sharp tail and hun or two. While I enjoy eating all the birds I’ve listed, if I was only allowed to eat one of those for the rest of my life, I’d pick ruffed grouse without batting an eye.

I like to cut them into little grouse McNuggets and simply pan fry them with a little flour or commercial breading of some sort, and season to taste. You can also slice the breast into strips and make grouse fajitas. Anything you can do with a chicken you can do with a grouse.

 

[Rogue Hunter]

In my opinion, ruffed grouse is the finest tasting game bird there is….period. I’ve eaten ducks, geese, woodcock, doves, pheasants, bobwhite quail, chukars, and I think a sharp tail and hun or two. While I enjoy eating all the birds I’ve listed, if I was only allowed to eat one of those for the rest of my life, I’d pick ruffed grouse without batting an eye.

I like to cut them into little grouse McNuggets and simply pan fry them with a little flour or commercial breading of some sort, and season to taste. You can also slice the breast into strips and make grouse fajitas. Anything you can do with a chicken you can do with a grouse.

^^^^What he said, except no flour needed. Slice breasts length-wise, 1/4 inch thick, panfry, one minute on each size.

And, yes, best game bird, period. 1 to 10...grouse rate 11.

Every serious bird hunter needs to go on a Ruffled grouse pilgrimage once in their lives...to Wisconsin...there are no grouse in Minnesota.

 

[WOODIE13]

Definitely a 10.

We would pluck and bake them, about like you would do a cornish hen. Soak in salt and a little vinegar water, pat dry, butter, then add your seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic, paprika, etc) and stuff with apple and onions. Cook until skin is crispy. Delicious.

Haven't shot one in years, only seen a few here in WV when it was nothing to jump 20 to 30 before 2000.

 

[Soggy Socks]

The very best. i just put a couple strips of bacon on top and roast them. What the others said don't overcook them.

 

[Luigi Daniele]

Holy cow!

 

[salthunter]

All upland Ive eaten is often too dry and lacks much natural flavor. some birds have that chicken $h!T flavor .

Good and appropriate amounts of seasoning
Deep fat frying in breading helps too. To me most grouse are in the same ranking ( but lack flavor) as bad tasting duck. The exception can be very fatty birds ( not too many are that fat. ) skin on.
Smoking or cooked smoked helps tremendously


I like butter and cream sauces.
or frying in carnalizing butter.
skin on, stuffed birds with fruit/bread stuffing with added fat, butter, beef fat or lard

Cheap bacon can raise the ranking to 5 or 6

 

[swifthunter]

It is the most chicken like of the grouse that I have had and can dry out if not cooked properly. My kids like it breaded with shake and bake and baked in the air fryer. but any chicken recipe will work