
Recipe for pigeon breast sous vide
Sous vide cooked pigeon breast. A delicious way to ensure a juicy piece of meat without it becoming dry.
We have the recipe from the book: “Sous Vide Handbook“, where the author writes the following about the recipe:
“A pigeon breast is a small piece of meat weighing 50-60 g. It has a strong gamey flavor and is quite filling. It is well-suited for sous vide cooking, where you can prepare the delicate piece gently and evenly. It requires almost no extra tenderizing, as it would otherwise become dry.”

Pigeon Breast Sous Vide
Equipment
- Sous Vide
Ingredients
- 120 gram Pigeon Breast 10% fat
Instructions
Pigeon Breast Sous Vide
- Make sure all possible pellets are removed!
- Optionally remove the skin, as it won't get crispy when searing.
- One can also remove the thin tenders on the underside (done here), as they often separate from the breast during searing.
- Season the meat with salt and pepper and vacuum-seal it.
- Cook the meat at 56 degrees Celsius (133 degrees Fahrenheit) for 45 minutes. The heating time for a 2 cm high breast is 30 minutes and the tenderizing time is 15 minutes.
- Take the meat out of the bag and pat it dry thoroughly.
Searing the Pigeon Breast
- Pan: High heat 60 + 30 secondsGrill: High heat 30 + 20 seconds.
The Result
- Dark red-pink color. Tender, soft, and very juicy.The skin is chewy.Strong game/pigeon flavor.
Notes
Sous vide pigeon breast pairs well with:
• with mushrooms, carrots, and parsnips with cream sauce• with mashed potatoes with blackberries, currants, and balsamic
• with pointed cabbage, cherries, and game sauce
• with mushrooms and risotto
• with Pommes Anna, carrots, and red wine sauce
• with potatoes, apples, and cranberries with red wine sauce