When Chef Bailey was growing up, cornbread dressing made its annual holiday appearance alongside roasted turkey. Taking her cue from those festive meals, she’s created a similar recipe—only this one uses quail instead of turkey. Quail is a smaller bird with more year-round appeal that also conveys the tradition of trapping and hunting in the Georgia region.


Chef Mashama Bailey’s Quail With Watermelon Molasses Recipe

Quail is a small game bird, similar to a partridge. The 32 species of quail found in the Americas come from the Odontophoridae family. Because quail are so small, a single roast quail can serve as a main dish for one person. In this quail recipe, Chef Bailey uses a dry marinade of [blackening spice](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/a-list-of-the-27-essential-cooking-spices-you-need-to-know) and the [pan-roasting method](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cooking-101-learn-how-to-pan-roast-plus-9-pan-roasting-recipe-ideas) to achieve flavorful, crispy skin and perfectly cooked meat. Chef Bailey says Cornish game hen or even pork chops would also work well in this recipe as substitutions.

When Chef Bailey was growing up, cornbread dressing made its annual holiday appearance alongside roasted turkey. Taking her cue from those festive meals, she’s created a similar recipe—only this one uses quail instead of turkey. Quail is a smaller bird with more year-round appeal that also conveys the tradition of trapping and hunting in the Georgia region.


<p class="mc-mb-6">Quail is a small game bird, similar to a partridge. The 32 species of quail found in the Americas come from the Odontophoridae family. Because quail are so small, a single roast quail can serve as a main dish for one person. In this quail recipe, Chef Bailey uses a dry marinade of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/a-list-of-the-27-essential-cooking-spices-you-need-to-know' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/a-list-of-the-27-essential-cooking-spices-you-need-to-know","linkCopy":"blackening spice","category":null}'>blackening spice</a> and the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cooking-101-learn-how-to-pan-roast-plus-9-pan-roasting-recipe-ideas' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cooking-101-learn-how-to-pan-roast-plus-9-pan-roasting-recipe-ideas","linkCopy":"pan-roasting method","category":null}'>pan-roasting method</a> to achieve flavorful, crispy skin and perfectly cooked meat. Chef Bailey says Cornish game hen or even pork chops would also work well in this recipe as substitutions.</p>

What Is Quail?

Chef Mashama Bailey’s Quail With Watermelon Molasses Recipe	

<p class="mc-mb-6">When Chef Bailey was growing up, cornbread dressing made its annual holiday appearance alongside roasted turkey. Taking her cue from those festive meals, she’s created a similar recipe—only this one uses quail instead of turkey. Quail is a smaller bird with more year-round appeal that also conveys the tradition of trapping and hunting in the Georgia region.</p>