Authors: Alan Kistler
Tags: #recipes, #cookbook, #Game of Thrones
Bran’s Venison Burger
“Winter is coming,” but that doesn’t mean they stand by and await the darkness. Bran is a determined, resourceful boy filled with a strong resolve in his soul matched only by his curiosity. Inspired by Bran’s youth, journeys, and wild heart, this Venison Burger captures a bit of the lighthearted child he trades for a sage wanderer. (
A Clash of Kings
, Chapter 16 — Bran)
Serves 8
2 pounds ground venison
Coarse kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
8 or 10 buns, buttered and toasted
1 head romaine lettuce, washed and torn
1 red onion, thinly sliced
2 beefsteak tomatoes, thinly sliced
2 avocados, peeled and sliced
1 cup kalamata olives, chopped
Assorted cheeses, crumbled, sliced, or shaved (Boursin, Cheddar, blue, pecorino, goat, Monterey jack, etc.)
1 pound bacon, fried crisp
Assorted condiments: mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, barbecue sauce, etc.
A Word of Wisdom
Ground venison is very lean, so fat is often added during the butchering process. Give any meatloaf, soups, or chili a new twist with this or another variety of ground game!
Everyman’s Skewered Pigeon and Capon
Birds serve many roles in the realm of Westeros. Some deliver messages between the lands. Others offer dreams, visions, and new sight to those like Bran Stark and Orell the wildling. But sometimes, they’re simply wonderful food, respected and appreciated at the highest and lowest of tables. This rustic rendition of two commonly enjoyed birds could be found at any tavern or feast table in Westeros. (
A Clash of Kings
, Chapter 16 — Bran)
Serves 6–8
1
⁄
2
teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crumbled
1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crumbled
1
⁄
2
teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
6 tablespoons (
3
⁄
4
stick) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
3
⁄
4
pound boneless, skinless pigeon breasts
3
⁄
4
pound boneless, skinless capon breasts
Flour for dredging
Vegetables of your choice — peppers, onions, etc.
A Word of Wisdom
Why use unsalted butter? It does not burn as easily as that with salt in it. The cream used in sweet butter is also fresher and of better quality, while salt just acts as a preservative and masks flavors. You can always add salt on your own!
Buttered Quails of King’s Landing
After a long day of political maneuvering, Tyrion Lannister enjoys a large meal with Lord Janos Slynt, a meal where every dish has its own wine and could be a full supper on its own. Paired with a glass of Tyrion’s favorite Arbor red, this dish of quails drowned in butter would honor any guest with its undeniable richness of flavor. But diners should be wary of drowning themselves — be it in butter, wine, or intrigue masked as hospitality. (
A Clash of Kings
, Chapter 8 — Tyrion)
Serves 4–6
6–8 quail
1 cup seasoned flour
3–4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 shallots, finely chopped
1
⁄
4
cup brandy
2 cups chicken stock
1
⁄
4
cup almonds, sliced
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons horseradish
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
A Word of Wisdom
Wild game can be so lean that it needs to have some fat and/or moisture added while cooking. Many recipes, like this one, often require finishing a sauce or dish with butter or heavy cream — even when they include stocks and milk.
Lordlings’ Goose-in-Berries
The perfect marriage of bird and berry comes just in time for the harvest. Overstuffed and overwhelmed by the harvest feast, Bran sends Lord Cley Cerwyn a dish of this goose in berries to honor House Cerwyn’s loyalty to the North. Known well for how easily it pairs with a variety of wines, goose is a fine complement for honored bannermen who work as closely with their liege lord as the Cerwyns do. (
A Clash of Kings
, Chapter 21 — Bran)
Serves 6
2 (about 18 ounces each) large goose breast halves (partially thawed)
1
⁄
2
cup seasoned flour
6 tablespoons (
3
⁄
4
stick) unsalted butter
4 tablespoons blackberry jam or
Last Bite of Summer Blackberry Preserves
1
⁄
2
cup heavy cream
A Word of Wisdom
Though crossbreeding of chicken and turkey has left their meat less palatable for some, geese are still usually much like their ancestors: intensely flavored, gamey, dark, fatty, and delicious.
Stark Stuffed Quail
It can be difficult when a boy must step into the role of his father, but Bran Stark is stronger than appearances may indicate. While hosting the visiting lords and bannermen, he feasts on stuffed birds and other fine meals. It’s a good feast and an educational one. If only he weren’t also bothered by such strange dreams … (
A Clash of Kings
, Chapter 16 — Bran)
Serves 4–6
8 quail
Salt and pepper to taste
1 package chicken gravy mix
1
⁄
2
cup dry white wine
1
⁄
4
cup (
1
⁄
2
stick) butter
1
⁄
2
cup porcini (Italian brown) mushrooms, brushed and sliced
1
⁄
4
cup finely chopped sweet onion
1
⁄
2
cup wild rice, cooked
1
⁄
2
teaspoon dried sage leaves or 4 fresh ones, shredded
1
⁄
4
teaspoon fresh basil
Pinch ground nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
4 slices bacon
Watercress, for garnish