Roasted wood pigeon on toast

• oven-ready wood pigeons2
• handful robust herbs↗

  such as thyme, sage and rosemary

• garlic cloves↗4 4

  bashed but not peeled

• olive oil↗2 tbsp tbsp
• butter↗25g g
• thick slices sourdough bread2
• red wine↗150ml ml

  (Chianti works well)

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Season the pigeons generously, stuff the cavities with nearly all the herbs, and place a garlic clove in each bird. Heat the oil and butter in an ovenproof shallow pan, and spend 5 mins browning the pigeons on all sides. Remove the pigeons and fry the bread on one side until crispy and golden, adding more butter to the pan if you need to.

2. 2

   Turn the bread over and sit a pigeon on each slice of bread. Scatter the remaining herbs and garlic into the pan, and pour over the wine. Put the pan in the oven for 20 mins, then remove and leave to rest for 10 mins. Serve the pigeon straight from the pan with the bread.