Double Rich Duck Stock Food

BASIC DUCK STOCK

Steps:

• Coat the carcasses and various bird bits with oil. Salt them well and put in a large roasting pan. Put in the oven, turn on the oven to 400°F, and roast for about 1 hour, until well browned.
• Meanwhile, score the pig's foot all over, or chop the duck feet with a cleaver or other heavy knife, to break the skin and expose the joints and bones. There is collagen in the feet that will seep into the water and give the finished stock more body.
• When the carcasses are ready, remove them from the oven and chop them into large pieces with heavy kitchen shears or a cleaver. This will make it possible to fit them all into your stockpot. Transfer them to a large stockpot and add the feet. Pour in cold water to cover everything by about 1 inch. Turn the heat to medium, bring to a bare simmer, and cook very gently for 2 to 8 hours. Do not let this boil.
• Meanwhile, put the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic in the roasting pan and stir to coat with the fat that has rendered from the duck bits. If you are using domestic ducks or fatty wild ones, you may have too much fat: if you have a pool of fat at the bottom of the roasting pan, drain off all but about 3 tablespoons. You can strain the fat and reuse it (it's great for roasting potatoes). Put the vegetables in the oven and roast for about 45 minutes, until browned.
• When the vegetables are browned, pour about 4 cups water into the roasting pan and scrape up any browned bits with a wooden spoon.
• When the stock has simmered for at least 2 hours, add the vegetables, the liquid from the roasting pan, and all the remaining ingredients. Stir well and simmer, uncovered, for 1 1/2 to 2 hours longer.
• Turn off the heat and strain the stock. Set up a fine-mesh sieve over another large pot (you may need 2 pots if you don't have a second large pot). Line the sieve with a piece of plain paper towel or cheesecloth and ladle the stock through the sieve. Change the paper towel or rinse the cheesecloth once or twice. This step is vital to making a clear stock. Do not attempt to capture the last dregs of stock at the bottom of the pot, or you will have cloudy stock.
• Your stock is now ready. Season to taste with salt, adding a little at a time. Skip the salting if you want to further concentrate flavors by simmering the strained stock for as long as you like. Check every 15 minutes or so to see if the flavor is as you want it.
• Transfer the stock to jars, let cool, cover, and refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 9 months. Alternatively, pressure can the stock and store for up to 1 year.

DUCK STOCK (SAVE THAT CARCASS)

Steps:

• Throw everything into a large pot and cover with water (about 3 litres). Bring to the boil then reduce to a simmer and cook for 1 1/2 hours, skimming any scum that rises.
• After simmering, strain into a bowl pressing the meat and veg gently to remove all the liquid. Discard carcass and veg etc. Add in any reserved meat jelly (see my intro) and return stock to the cooktop.
• Boil until 2 or 3 (500-750 ml) of stock remain. I stop reducing when the flavour is good. Strain again.
• Cool quickly, label and freeze.
• No need to season it-that happens when I use it for soup in the future.

DUCK SUGO WITH PAPPARDELLE.

Steps:

• Bring 1 cup of stock to boil and pour over dried porcinis. Allow to stand for 30 minutes. Remove rehydrated porcinis, squeeze dry and chop, reserving liquid. Strain through cheese cloth, to remove any grit that might be in the porcinis.
• Roughly chop onion and celery and puree finely in food processor with sage, rosemary, and 1/2 cup of parsley. Heat duck fat in skillet, then add puréed mixture. Finely mince garlic and add to sautéed mixture. Then add your rehydrated porcinis and sauté a few more minutes.
• Deglaze pan with white wine, then add stock and reserved porcini liquid and simmer for about half an hour or until reduced to desired consistency.
• Add shredded duck, heating well and allow all flavors to marry, adjusting with salt and pepper to taste.
• Prepare pasta and drain. Rough chop remaining parsley. Toss duck mixture with pasta, sprinkle with parsley and Parmesan (or Manchego).

DOUBLE-RICH DUCK STOCK

Steps:

• Place duck carcass pieces into a stockpot. Cover with enough stock or simmering liquid to cover bones by 1 inch. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, skimming to remove scum that forms on surface.
• Reduce heat to keep at a simmer; simmer uncovered, skimming off fat and impurities now and then, for 12 hours. Add water as needed to maintain the level of liquid in the pot.
• Strain stock; cool rapidly in a large bowl placed in an ice bath. Refrigerate or freeze.

DUCK STOCK

Steps:

• Break and crack the carcass.
• In a large stockpot, heat the vegetable oil.
• Season the bones with salt and pepper.
• Add the bones to the pot and brown for about 10 minutes, stirring often.
• Add the onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and bay leaves.
• Season the mixture with salt.
• Cook until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes, stirring often.
• Add the wine and tomato paste and stir to mix.
• Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the water.
• Put the thyme, parsley sprigs, and peppercorns in a piece of cheesecloth, tie it together with kitchen twine, and add it to the mixture.
• Bring the mixture to a boil.
• Skim off any cloudy scum that rises to the surface.
• Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, for 3 hours.
• Strain through a fine-mesh strainer and cool.
• Refrigerate overnight and remove any congealed fat from the surface.
• The stock can be stored in the freezer for 1 month.

APRICOT ROAST DUCK LEGS

Steps:

• Place the extra fat in a stockpot with duck stock and water and bring to a boil.
• Prick the duck legs all over and add to the pot.
• Add extra water to cover, if needed.
• Simmer 30 minutes.
• Remove and let legs sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to dry skin.
• Meanwhile preheat oven to 450.
• In a saucepan heat the vinegar, preserves, soy sauce, chile, ground pepper, and peppercorns.
• Divide sauce in half.
• Place duck legs on a roasting pan, brush with sauce.
• Roast for 30 minutes occasionally basting with sauce.
• Serve with remaining sauce for dipping.