Duck Confit Quesadilla Food

DUCK CONFIT QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Cook the duck, skin-side down, covered, in a large heavy nonstick skillet over moderately-low heat until the skin is well-browned and crisp and the duck is heated through, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the duck and pour off all but 1 teaspoon of the fat from the pan and reserve. Cook the onions in the remaining duck fat over moderate heat until crispy and brown, about 10 minutes. Add 3 tablespoons water to the pan and scrape the bottom of the pan until the water evaporates. Remove the skin from the duck and reserve. Shred the meat and place in a medium bowl.
• Place the duck skin back in the pan and cook over a moderate heat, until the skin is crispy, about 5 minutes. Remove the skin from pan, chop and put in the same bowl as the shredded meat. Pour off all the duck fat from the pan and reserve the fat.
• Place 1 tortilla on your work surface and spread 1 tablespoon goat cheese, 2 tablespoons of the onions, 1/2 cup of the duck mixture and 1 tablespoon scallions on top of a tortilla. Lay another tortilla on top of the scallions.
• Brush a nonstick skillet with 1/2 teaspoon of the reserved duck fat over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Cook the quesadilla turning once, until golden, about 6 minutes. Repeat with the remaining ingredients and serve immediately.
• BYOC: What can't you throw in a quesadilla? Try some Monterey Jack cheese or some pickled jalapenos.

DUCK CONFIT QUESADILLA

Steps:

• Combine the salt, sugar and thyme in a food processor and buzz until the mix is green. Liberally coat the duck in the mixture. Let sit in the cure, refrigerated, for 24 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Remove the duck from the cure and rinse off any excess curing mix. Pat dry. Lay out the duck in a deep casserole dish and cover with the duck fat. Cover and cook for 3 to 3 1/2 hours.
• Remove the duck and let cool; strain the fat and save for later use. Once the duck is cool enough to handle, pick the meat apart from the bones and discard the skin.
• Assemble the quesadillas like a grilled cheese sandwich, filling the tortillas with the cheese, caramelized onions and shredded duck, folding one side over the other.
• Cook gently in a large skillet over medium heat on each side for 3 minutes in a little butter (or the duck fat!) until the tortillas are golden brown and the cheese is gooey.
• Serve with your favorite flavored jam or jelly.

BARBECUED DUCK QUESADILLAS WITH LIME SOUR CREAM

Steps:

• Prepare smoker for cold smoke.
• Place breasts on a smoker rack and put in smoker for 15 minutes. Remove from smoker.
• In a small bowl, add fresh lime juice to sour cream and stir. Season with salt, to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place duck breasts in saute pan and place in oven. Roast duck for 10 minutes or until medium-rare. Remove from oven and cool.
• Using a sharp knife, dice duck breasts into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Place oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add onions and saute for 3 minutes or until onions are translucent. Add diced duck, season with salt and pepper. Stir in barbecue sauce, bring to a boil, and immediately remove from heat.
• Place four flour tortillas on a clean work surface. Divide the duck mixture onto the tortillas to cover. Sprinkle mango, poblano, red onion, cheese, and cilantro evenly over duck mixture. Top with the remaining flour tortillas and brush each side with a small amount of canola oil.
• Bring a large saucepan or griddle to medium heat. Place one flour tortilla sandwich into pan or griddle and cook until golden brown or about three minutes. With a spatula, pick up flour tortilla sandwich and turn over to finish cooking to a golden brown. Remove from pan or griddle and place on cutting board. Cut into six wedges. Place on a warm plate and dab Lime Sour Cream on each wedge and garnish with a cilantro sprig.

DUCK CONFIT

Steps:

• Lay the leg portions on a platter, skin side down. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the kosher salt and the black pepper. Place the garlic cloves, bay leaves, and sprigs of thyme on each of 2 leg portions. Lay the remaining 2 leg portions, flesh to flesh, on top. Put the reserved fat from the ducks in the bottom of a glass or plastic container. Top with the sandwiched leg portions. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt. Cover and refrigerate for 12 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• Remove the duck from the refrigerator. Remove the garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and duck fat and reserve. Rinse the duck with cool water, rubbing off some of the salt and pepper. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Put the reserved garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and duck fat in the bottom of an enameled cast iron pot. Sprinkle evenly with the peppercorns and table salt. Lay the duck on top, skin side down. Add the olive oil. Cover and bake for 12 to 14 hours, or until the meat pulls away from the bone.
• Remove the duck from the fat. Strain the fat and reserve. To store the duck confit, place the duck leg portions in a container, cover with the reserved cooking fat, and store in the refrigerator. Alternately, pick the meat from the bones and place it in a stoneware container. Cover the meat with a thin layer of some of the strained fat. The duck confit can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
• The excess oil can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and used like butter for cooking. The tinge of duck taste in the oil is wonderful.

DUCK CONFIT

Steps:

• Place the duck breasts in the insert of a 5 1/2 to 6 quart slow cooker and add the fat, garlic, shallot, salt, pepper, and herbes de Provence. Cover, set the slow cooker on HIGH, and cook for 1 hour. Reduce the heat to LOW and cook until the duck is very, very tender--at least 4 and up to 8 hours. Use a slotted spoon to remove the duck from the fat, which can be strained, frozen, and reused. Serve the duck hot or at room temperature, or use it to make cassoulet.
• There are three ways to get chicken fat for this recipe: You can skim congealed fat off the top of chicken soup or stock, buy it in a plastic tub from a kosher butcher, or make it yourself. To make your own, place raw chicken fat in a heavy saucepan and cook very slowly over medium-low heat until the fat has melted, the connective tissue has darkened and crisped, and any water has evaporated. Strain the rendered fat into a bowl. Rendered chicken fat can be kept in a sealed container in the freezer for up to 6 months.

ROAST DUCK QUESADILLA

Steps:

• Heat a large nonstick skillet over a medium heat.
• Lightly oil the skillet and place a tortilla and lightly heat and lightly brush some of the hoisin sauce on the tortilla. Place a hand full in mixture and spread over the tortilla. Place another tortilla on top. Browning one side and turn over and brown other side.
• Slice and serve hot.