This week I wrapped dove breasts with 1/2 slice of bacon and cooked indirect on a kettle for about 25 minutes. A real quick finish over the coals. MMMMM good. I forgot to salt, pepper or rub. The natural goodness was enough.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Petrone:
... I forgot to salt, pepper or rub. The natural goodness was enough.

You forgot the pics too!!

Bill

Last time I had dove I shot them myself. Very fresh, but I didn't cook them and they ended up going in the host's oven.

Didn't do the bacon thing, either. That sounds great!

I have to learn to photo food and upload it.

May have fibbed...I think I used a very light sprinkle of rub...enough so you didn't notice it.

Yeah, I'd like to see a photo myself on this one...sounds xlnt, I've never eaten dove before.

Was it a turtle dove? (I don't know what a turtle dove is, but everyone sings about them come the holidays... )

EDIT: I found one, there really is such a thing as a turtle dove... Doesn't look like too much meat, maybe you put it on a cracker...I think I'd need about 6 breasts for a meal, and a half a slab of bacon to help out!

Alan, it is called Mourning Dove. The most abundant game bird in the us. Yes CA too. My research noted they weigh ( the whole bird that is) up to 6 ounces. Just a breast does not make a meal. It is a dark meat, nice rich flavor, many in the south like to fry them and serve with gravy.

Sounds awesome Steve. Where did you find the dove breasts?

Sounds great. Try marinating the bacon wrapped breast in moores or dales low sodium marinade. MMM good.

My son shot them east of Charlotte.

Dale-I am on the low salt routine. But you would be correct, that would be tastey>

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Petrone:
Alan, it is called Mourning Dove. The most abundant game bird in the us. Yes CA too. My research noted they weigh ( the whole bird that is) up to 6 ounces. Just a breast does not make a meal. It is a dark meat, nice rich flavor, many in the south like to fry them and serve with gravy.

Nice to know, didn't mean to imply yours were turtle doves, just was surprised to see there really is such a thing as a turtle dove.

Does the meat taste gamy?

I am a bad one to ask-what many call gamy, I call rich full flavored. My wife loves 'em. Dove are grain eaters. It is excellent meat.

I like them with a little slit cut in them and a little piece of japaleno wrapped with bacon then cooked in the oven with a broiler pan. take the drippings and rue up a gravy serve over rice and cover with gravy.

Filet breast meat. Skewer breast meat around slice of jalapeno and two silces of vidalia onion. Marinade in Italian dressing and grill. Best you'll ever have.

Forgot to wrap in bacon.

I actually prefer quail over dove, especially after a Fall hunt. More meat, less gamey tasting, easier to clean and consume. Love them marinated in Italian, then wrapped in bacon with a fresh jalapeno, onion, or bell pepper in the breast cavity. MMMMMMMMMM