Pheasant with ramps & wild mushrooms

2 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
12 1/4 lb. farm-raised or wild, ready-to-roast pheasant; split in half
12Ramps (both white bulbs and green leaves)
1tablespoonButter; melted
½teaspoonSalt
teaspoonGround black pepper
10Fresh morels or other wild mushrooms
2teaspoonsFresh thyme leaves or
½teaspoonDried thyme leaves
½cupDry white wine
Fresh thyme sprigs with flowers (opt'l.)

Directions

GARNISH

Heat oven to 350 F. Rinse pheasant and pat dry. Remove any excess fat from body and neck cavities.

Thoroughly rinse ramps; pat dry. Cut white bulbs from green leaves of ramps. Slice green ramp leaves lengthwise; set aside. Place bulbs in 8" baking pan. Place pheasant halves, skin sides up, on top of bulbs.

Brush with melted butter; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast 40 to 50 minutes or until fork-tender.

Remove pheasant from baking pan to 2 plates; keep warm. Meanwhile, in small skillet, combine mushrooms and thyme with drippings from baking pan. Saute until mushrooms soften - 3 to 5 minutes. Stir white wine and ramp leaves into mushroom mixture; cook 3 to 5 minutes. With slotted spoon, remove mushroom mixture to plates with pheasant.

Remove and discard any excess fat from liquid in skillet; serve liquid as sauce with pheasant. Garnish pheasant with thyme sprigs,if desired.