Duck Breast Food

SOUS VIDE DUCK BREAST

Steps:

• Cut several very shallow crosswise slashes across the skin of each duck breast about 1/2 inch apart. The cuts should only barely cut into the skin and fat; don't cut into the meat. Season skin sides with salt. Generously season meat sides with salt, black pepper, and thyme.
• Place duck breasts in a heavy-duty resealable plastic bag, squeeze out all air, and seal. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Fill a large Dutch oven about 2/3 full with water. Bring water to 135 degrees F (57 degrees C) over medium heat. Attach a candy or oil thermometer to the side of the Dutch oven in order to monitor and maintain the water temperature. Place a silicone hot pad into bottom of the pan to keep the plastic bag from contacting the hot bottom of the pan.
• Place plastic bag containing duck breasts in the Dutch oven, adjusting the heat as necessary to maintain the temperature at 135 degrees F (57 degrees C). Cook for 1 hour, moving the bag around occasionally and maintaining the temperature.
• Remove duck breasts from plastic bag and pat dry. Generously season skin sides with salt.
• Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over high heat. Place duck breasts with skin sides down in skillet and cook until fat renders and skin is golden brown, 5 minutes. Turn breasts over and cook until lightly browned and meat still pink in the center, 1 minute. Let duck breasts rest for 2 minutes before slicing.

CRISPY BALSAMIC DUCK BREASTS

Steps:

• Using a sharp knife, score the duck skin (fat) with diagonal parallel slashes 1/2 inch apart to make a diamond pattern, being careful not to pierce through to the flesh.
• Pour the balsamic vinegar into a shallow dish just wide enough to fit the breasts in one layer.
• Add the duck, flesh (not fat) side down; cover and leave to marinate for 20 minutes at room temperature (can be marinated up to 2 hours refrigerated but remove for last twenty minutes at room temperature).
• Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add duck, fat side down and cook until crispy, about 5 minutes (covered to avoid spattering).
• After the 5 minutes, carefully pour the rendered fat from the pan and wipe the outside of the pan of any grease that may have dripped there before placing back on the stove.
• Turn the duck breasts over and continue to cook: about 5 minutes more for rare, 8 for medium rare, and 10 minutes for well done, but of course depending on the size of the duck breasts.
• Remove duck from pan to cutting board and slice thinly against the grain.
• Serve immediately, passing extra balsamic vinegar for drizzling if desired.

DUCK BREAST WITH ORANGE SAUCE

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 200C.
• Score the fat side of the duck breasts with a sharp knife in a criss-cross pattern, with say a 1cm gap between the scores. Season the breast with salt and pepper.
• Put the breasts fat side down into a heated ovenproof skillet and cook on the hob until the fat side is crispy. This should take about 4-5 minutes.
• While pan frying the duck prepare the sauce ingredients by putting the stock, honey, soy sauce, red wine, ginger, orange juice and tomato puree into a measuring jug and whisking together.
• During this time a lot of fat will be released from the duck. Discard the excess fat (or retain for your next batch of roast potatoes) and then turn the breasts over and cook the other side for about 2 minutes.
• Afterwards, again relieve of any excess fat, and place the pan in the oven for a further 2-3 minutes. Remove from the oven, relieve of any fat again, and set the duck breasts aside to rest.
• Then pour the contents of the measuring jug into the same pan and bring to the boil. Simmer for a few minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
• Slice the duck breast and serve up with the orange sauce poured over the slices.

PAN-FRIED DUCK BREAST WITH SPRING VEG

Steps:

• Cook the potatoes, halving any larger ones, in a pan of boiling salted water for 20 minutes, or until tender.
• Meanwhile, score the skin of the duck breast at 2cm intervals, then season with sea salt and black pepper.
• Place the duck skin-side down in a cold non-stick frying pan, then turn the heat on to medium-high. Cook for 8 minutes without moving it, or until the fat is well rendered and the skin is golden and crispy.
• Turn the duck over and cook for 4 minutes on the other side, then remove to a plate to rest, leaving the pan of duck fat on the heat.
• Snap the woody ends off the asparagus and add the spears to the potato pan for the last 5 minutes, adding the peas for the last 2 minutes, then drain it all and leave to stream dry.
• Finely chop the chilli and mint leaves (reserving a few pretty baby leaves), and place in a large bowl. Finely grate in the lemon zest and squeeze in half the juice, add 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, mix together and season to perfection.
• Halve the asparagus spears, then tip all the warm vegetables into the dressing and mix well. Divide between your plates, then slice the duck and arrange over the top. Scatter over the reserved baby mint leaves to finish.

PAN FRIED DUCK BREAST

Steps:

• Score each duck breast's skin with a sharp knife, ensuring not to cut into the meat.
• Season generously with salt and leave the duck breasts to stand for 15 minutes. Pat both sides dry with a paper towel.
• Place the duck breasts skin side down in a cold frying pan and switch on the heat to a medium-high setting.
• Wait. Leave the duck undisturbed for around 3-5 minutes (depending on size of breasts) and watch as the fat melts, which lubricates the meat. Using a spatula or tongs, you can press down on the meat side to ensure the skin is evenly cooked.
• Flip the breasts over and cook for 3-4 minutes, all depending on how well you like your duck cooked.
• We advise medium-rare pink. If the duck is thicker on one side, tip the breasts onto the thick sides and allow to cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Remove from the pan and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
• Serve with your choice of vegetables and accompanying sauce. I suggest dauphinoise potatoes, steamed broccoli and orange sauce. Enjoy!

MARINATED DUCK BREASTS

Steps:

• Place duck breasts in a glass dish with onion, carrot and thyme, "Essence", and garlic. Pour in the wine, mix, cover and marinate overnight in the fridge.
• Next day, remove meat from marinade, and drain them, preserving the marinade.
• Melt the pork fat and 2 tbsp butterover high heat and saute the breasts for five minutes each side.
• Remove and cover the breasts in a 250 degree oven, to keep them warm while you make the sauce.
• Pour off all the fat from the pan, and deglaze with Armagnac. Pour in the unstrained marinade and boil until reduced to one half its original volume.
• Strain the liquid, and bring to a boil a second time, whisking constantly and adding the butter chunks, a few at a time.
• As soon as the butter is incorporated to the sauce, pour over the breasts and serve immediately.

SEARED DUCK BREAST

Steps:

• With a sharp knife, score the fat of the duck breast in a crisscross pattern, being careful to not cut into the meat. Season the duck with salt and pepper. Warm a cast-iron or heavy-bottomed pan over medium-low heat and add enough oil to just coat the bottom of the pan.
• Place the duck breast fat-side down in the skillet to render off the fat, about 8 minutes. Once the fat has rendered out and the skin is golden brown and crisp, turn the duck breast over and add the butter, thyme and garlic. Turn up the heat to medium-high and, once the butter is foamy, begin basting the duck breast using a spoon. Continue basting until the duck breast reaches medium rare and measures 135 to 140 degrees F. on an instant-read thermometer, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the pan and let rest for 3 to 4 minutes before slicing.

PAN-SEARED DUCK BREAST WITH ORANGE PAN SAUCE RECIPE

Steps:

• Season duck breasts with salt, heavily on the skin side and lightly on the flesh side.
• Increase heat to medium and further brown skin if needed, about 1 minute, before flipping and cooking on the flesh side. For medium-rare meat, cook until breast registers 130°F (54°C) on an instant-read thermometer, about 1 to 2 minutes. Continue cooking until duck registers 140°F (60°C) for medium or 155°F (68°F) for well-done. Remove duck from pan and set aside to rest.

PAN ROASTED DUCK BREAST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• With a sharp knife score the fat of the duck breasts in a criss-cross pattern. Season the duck with salt and pepper. Warm a heavy bottomed ovenproof skillet over medium heat.
• Place the duck breasts, fat side down, in the skillet to render off the fat, about 6 minutes. Reserve rendered duck fat. Turn the duck breasts over and sear for 1 minute. Turn the fat side down again and place the skillet into the oven to roast for 7 to 9 minutes, until breasts are medium rare. Let the duck breasts rest for 5 minutes then thinly slice.
• Grate the potatoes and squeeze out excess liquid using your hands. Toss the potatoes with the melted butter, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of duck fat in a 6-inch cast iron pan over medium-high heat. Press some of the potato mixture into the hot pan to make a 1/4-inch thick cake. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the rosti is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Flip the rosti in the pan and add more duck fat. Continue cooking until golden and crisp. Place the finished rosti onto an unlined baking sheet and continue cooking the rest of the potato mixture. Reheat rosti in a 400 degree F oven for 10 minutes.
• Combine the brown sugar, raspberry vinegar, red wine vinegar, and white wine vinegar in a medium pot. Place over medium-low heat and stir to dissolve the brown sugar. Simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add the blueberries, onion, green peppercorns, lemon juice, and ginger. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
• The chutney will keep for several weeks stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container.