greenlandicdinner✨ New
Ptarmigan with Crowberries and Cream
Roasted Arctic ptarmigan in a rich crowberry cream sauce — Greenland's elegant game bird dish.
Prep
20 min
Cook
45 min
Servings
2
Difficulty
Medium
★★★★★
4.9(298 ratings)#ptarmigan#game bird#crowberry#cream#roast
About This Recipe
The rock ptarmigan is the only bird that lives year-round in Greenland and has been hunted for thousands of years. Roasted whole and finished in a sauce of crowberries and cream, it makes an extraordinary dish — the lean, faintly gamy breast meat contrasting with the tart, jewel-coloured berry sauce and pools of cream.
Ingredients
Serves 2
- 2 wholeptarmigan (or substitute Cornish hen)
- 150 gfresh or frozen crowberries (or blueberries)
- 200 mlheavy cream
- 2 tbspunsalted butter
- 1 tbsphoney
Instructions
- 1
Season and sear
Pat birds dry, season inside and out with salt and pepper. Melt butter in an oven-safe pan over high heat; sear birds breast-side down for 3–4 minutes until golden.
- 2
Roast
Transfer pan to a 200 °C oven. Roast breast-side up for 25–30 minutes until juices run clear. Rest birds 10 minutes, tented loosely with foil.
- 3
Make the sauce
In the same pan over medium heat, add crowberries and honey. Crush berries gently and cook 3 minutes until they burst.
- 4
Add cream
Pour in cream, stir, and simmer 5–6 minutes until the sauce is slightly thickened and a deep pink-purple. Season with salt.
- 5
Serve
Plate each bird whole or halved. Spoon crowberry cream sauce over and around. Serve with roasted root vegetables or braised red cabbage.
Pro Tips
- →
Let the birds rest fully after roasting — the breast stays moist.
- →
Crowberries are very tart; taste the sauce and adjust honey accordingly.
- →
Cornish hen is the best widely available substitute for ptarmigan.
Variations
- •
Replace crowberries with lingonberries for a sweeter sauce
- •
Add a splash of cloudberry liqueur to the sauce for a luxurious finish
Storage
Best eaten fresh. Leftover meat can be refrigerated for 2 days and used in a salad or sandwich.
History & Origin
Ptarmigan hunting is a living tradition in Greenland, conducted with rifles or historically with nets during autumn. The birds turn white in winter and brown in summer — their camouflage adapted to the Arctic landscape. This preparation reflects the modern Greenlandic kitchen's blending of indigenous ingredients with European cooking techniques.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ptarmigan protected?
Rock ptarmigan hunting is regulated by season in Greenland, Iceland, and the Nordic countries. Always check local regulations.
Are crowberries very different from blueberries?
Crowberries are smaller, very dark, and more astringent than blueberries. Blueberries work as a substitute but produce a sweeter result.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (400g / 14.1 oz) · 2 servings total
Calories520kcal
Protein46g
Carbohydrates14g
Fat30g
Fiber2g
Protein46g
Carbs14g
Fat30g
Time Summary
Prep time20 min
Cook time45 min
Total time65 min
Have Questions?
Ask our AI cooking assistant anything about this recipe — substitutions, techniques, scaling.
Chat with AI Chef →More Greenlandic Recipes
Community
Join the conversation
Sign in to leave a comment and save your favourite recipes