The Wonders of Quail and their Eggs

One of the wonders of keeping quail is the fact you get to harvest their eggs daily.   They are smaller comparing to a chicken egg.  Normally about 3 is the size of one chicken egg but they are just as nutritious. A fun fact about quail eggs is they have magical healing powers against allergies and boy do I have allergies.  I try to "take" one a day.  I just use my quail egg scissors and open it up and shot it down with a splash of hot sauce.  It is amazing how God does provide for you through his creation.  

Besides eating them raw they are great fried and even better boiled.  If you boil them you have so many more fun things to do with them.  You can slice them for salads or just to eat.  You can make deviled eggs.  You can make scotch eggs. But my FAVORITE is pickled quail eggs.  They are the perfect size to pickle.  A nice sized mouthful.  I find normal pickled chicken eggs to be too large but quail pickled eggs you can down in one bite.  

Boiling Quail Eggs

• Since they are smaller you need to boil them for a less amount of time.  Place them in your pot and add cold water.
• Bring to a boil and allow to boil 2 minutes
• Once the time is up place in an ice water bath

Easy peasy, Right?  Well, that step sure is but cracking the boogers open is not as simple.  The shells are very thick and hard to crack open, making it tedious and time-consuming.  You can not just use the scissors to open them when boiled. 

Shelling your Quail Eggs

• After you have boiled your eggs and cooled them down place them in a bowl.
• Cover your eggs with white vinegar.
• Allow sitting on the counter for at least 3 hours. 

I normally allow mine to sit all day.  I have read that if you allow them to sit longer then 3 hours they make take on the taste of the vinegar but I have not found this to be true.  

The vinegar helps to dissolve the shell, making it much easier to peel.  Just like shelling a chicken egg pinch the top of the egg and tear open.  You do not crack them like a chicken egg though.  You just pinch and tear the shell right off.

Some might find quail eggs unusual or gross but in some countries, they are a delicacy.

As I am typing mine are in the vinegar so I will have to update to show pictures of shelling them.  

Another great thing about quail is how good they taste.  Yes, I went there and said that!!!  Quail is a favorite in French cuisine.  You will also see it in Italian, Polish, Indian and Portuguese cuisine.  

As always Enjoy!!