Maple Duck Breast Food

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 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.

MAPLE DUCK BREAST

Steps:

• Score duck skin with ½-inch (1 cm) deep incisions in a criss-cross pattern, avoiding cutting through to the flesh. Season skin side with half the salt and half the pepper, rubbing it inches.
• Set aside for five minutes in a non-reactive baking dish (ceramic, glass or stainless steel). Turn and repeat, using the remaining salt and pepper. Set aside in the baking dish for five minutes.
• In a cup, whisk together the maple syrup, vinegar and garlic and pour over duck, coating it. Let stand for 30 to 60 minutes or cover and refrigerate overnight, bringing it to room temperature before baking. When ready to bake, drain duck, discarding marinade.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 C). Transfer duck to a cold, cast-iron frying pan, skin side down.
• Place pan over medium heat and brown duck without turning it for about three minutes. Raise heat to medium-high and continue to cook three more minutes.
• Turn duck over, to skin side up, and cook two more minutes.
• Turn duck over again, to skin side down, and place roast in preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until meat thermometer inserted in thickest part of breast registers 165 degrees F (75 C).
• Place duck on a cutting board, covered with aluminum foil, for three to four minutes. Then slice meat and serve with pan drippings and parsley.

ROAST DUCK BREASTS WITH MAPLE SYRUP VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Score the duck breast skin with a sharp knife. Season with salt and pepper, and place, fat-side down, in a frying pan over a medium heat. As the fat begins to heat it will melt and crisp up. Continue to colour the skin for 10-12 mins before turning the duck over and frying for a further 4-5 mins to a pink stage. Remove the duck breasts to one side and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, boil the maple syrup and simmer until just 2 tbsp are left before removing from the heat and whisking in the sherry vinegar, groundnut and hazelnut oils. Season with salt and pepper.
• While frying the duck breasts, trim and lightly rinse the wild mushrooms. When the duck is resting, fry the mushrooms in half the butter in a hot pan, seasoning with salt and pepper, until just tender. Heat a separate pan with the remaining butter and add the washed spinach. Season with salt and pepper, allowing the leaves to wilt and soften before draining.
• To serve, divide the spinach among 4 plates. Cut each breast into 5-6 slices and place on top of the spinach. Top with the pan-fried wild mushrooms, drizzling each with the maple syrup vinaigrette.

MAPLE PECAN CRUSTED DUCK BREAST

Steps:

• Rinse and dry duck breasts, then stab full of holes with a skewer or a knife works fine too.
• Lay the duck in a large bowl, avoid overlapping if possible and pour enough maple syrup over breasts to cover.
• Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.
• Pour 1/2-3/4 of the pecans in a zip bag and smash well with a rolling pin. You may wish to pulse in a food processor instead.
• Remove duck from frige and set at room temperature for 10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• One breast at a time baste with remaining syrup and a basting brush, then roll in pecan crumbs.
• Place in a buttered baking dish.
• Bake for 40-45 minutes. You want the duck to be a little rare or it will be tough.