6 New Mexico dried red chile peppers
2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Lemon juice
2 T. olive oil
12 6-ounce quail, breastbone removed
Kumquat Sauce:
1 T. canola oil
2 large shallots, minced or 1/4 C. minced red onion
12 fresh kumquats, chopped with skin intact
2 fresh jalape�o chile peppers, seeded and minced
1/4 C. red wine vinegar
2 C. fresh orange juice
1 T. honey
1 1/2 C. fat-free, no-salt-added canned chicken broth
salt and freshly ground pepper
fresh kumquats and lemon leaves, for garnish (optional)

Preheat oven to 300�F. Arrange peppers on a baking sheet and roast for 30 to 45 seconds until warmed. Remove the stems and seeds and puree the flesh in a food processor to a fine powder. Stir in black pepper and place in a shallow dish. Set aside. Rinse the quail and pat dry. Sometimes you can buy quail already boned-out, or remove the breastbone by cutting down the bone with a sharp knife and pulling the bone away from the carcass. Rub the quail with lemon juice and brush tops of quail with the olive oil. Sprinkle on the chile pepper mixture and press in gently with your fingers. Increase oven setting to 325�F. Place the quail in a single layer in a large shallow baking pan, breast side up. Add about 1/8 inch water to the pan. Cover with foil and bake for 30 to 45 minutes, until done. To prepare sauce: heat oil in a small heavy saucepan. Add shallots, kumquats and jalape�os. Saute over low heat, stirring, until shallots are limp, about 4 minutes. Stir in vinegar and simmer until liquid almost evaporates. Add orange juice, honey, and chicken broth. Simmer until reduced to about 2 1/2 C. and the sauce lightly coats the back of a wooden spoon. Taste, adding salt (if using) and pepper. Keep warm. To serve, arrange roasted quail on a large serving platter. Nap each quail with 2 T. of the sauce. Place any remaining sauce in a small serving dish to pass separately. Decorate the platter with lemon leaves and kumquats.

Yield: 12 servings
Calories: 243
Fat: 9g
Fiber: 2g

Note: The analysis assumes that you will not eat the skin. If you do, add 50 calories and 5 grams of fat.