Penne Pasta With Duck Confit Mission Figs Balsamic Vinegar And Star Anise Infused Cream Sauce Food

SEARED DUCK BREAST WITH FIG SAUCE

Steps:

• For the duck breasts: Sprinkle each duck breast liberally with salt and pepper. Heat the vegetable oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat. Add the duck skin-side down and reduce the heat to low, cooking as the fat slowly renders and the skin becomes crispy, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Once the skin is crispy and golden brown, flip and continue cooking until a thermometer reads 128 to 130 degrees F when inserted into the thickest part of the breast (for medium-rare doneness), 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate or cutting board and allow to rest about 5 minutes. It will carryover cook to about 135 degrees F. Don't tent with foil in order to ensure the duck skin will stay crispy.
• For the fig sauce: Pour off all but 1 or 2 tablespoons of fat from the skillet, reserving the excess for another use. Over medium heat, add the shallots and cook until softened. Add the sherry and reduce by half. Next, add the chicken broth, fig jam and balsamic vinegar, and continue simmering until the sauce has thickened and is syrupy, another 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat, season with salt and pepper and whisk in the butter. Garnish with chopped chives.
• Serve the sauce alongside thinly sliced duck breast.

PENNE PASTA WITH DUCK CONFIT, MISSION FIGS, BALSAMIC VINEGAR AND STAR ANISE INFUSED CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350º.
• Fill a 6-quart pot with water and place over high heat. Once the water boils, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta and drizzle with oil and toss gently. This will prevent the pasta from sticking together while you prepare the sauce.
• In another pot, add the cream, star anise and 1 Tbsp. of fresh thyme. Reduce by half and reserve. This can be done in advance.
• Toss the figs with 1 Tbsp. oil and season with salt and pepper. Pour onto baking sheet and roast for 6 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to chill. Once cold, cut the fig halves in half again. This can also be done a day in advance.
• Place a 12-inch sauté pan over medium heat. Add the remaining 2 Tbsp. oil and bacon. Once the bacon has started to turn light brown, add the shallots. Continue stirring until the edges of the shallots start to brown, approximately 2 minutes.
• Add the remaining thyme and the balsamic vinegar. Reduce the vinegar until it coats the bottom of the pan. Add the shredded duck confit, figs and half of the cream. Bring to a simmer and add the pasta and parsley. Stir or flip the pasta with ingredients. You may want to add more cream at this point to gain sauce consistency. Remove pasta from heat. Allow to sit for 1 minute. Give a final seasoning with salt, pepper and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Top with parmesan and serve.

PENNE WITH TOMATOES, ROSEMARY, AND BALSAMIC VINEGAR

Steps:

• Bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a big pot for cooking the pasta.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet; add in onion and saute over medium heat until translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the rosemary and cook for 30 seconds to release its flavor.
• Add in the tomatoes, salt, and pepper to taste; simmer until the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• When the water comes to a boil, add salt to taste and the penne; cook until al dente and then drain.
• Stir the vinegar into the tomato sauce and toss with the penne, mixing well.
• Divide among individual bowls and serve immediately with grated cheese passed at the table.

DUCK CONFIT PASTA

Steps:

• remove the bones from the confit, chop the meat into bite-size pieces.
• cook the fettucine according to package directions, drain, set aside.
• heat olive oil and duck fat in a skillet.
• add garlic, and shallot, cook 2 minutes.
• add apricots, cook 1 minute.
• add hazelnuts and wine, cook over low heat, stirring until reduced by half.
• add stock and duck, reduce by half, 6-8 minutes.
• stir in butter, thyme and pepper.
• mix some sauce into the fettucine.
• spoon pasta onto 4 plates.
• top each with sauce and 1 tbsp chevre.
• serve.

ROASTED BALSAMIC VEGETABLES WITH PENNE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500ºF.
• In a medium bowl, add zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant, onion, bell pepper, 2 teaspoons basil, 2 tablespoons vinegar, oil, salt, pepper, and toss.
• Place in a single layer on a large cookie sheet lined with foil and bake 15 to 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender when pierced with a knife and just beginning to brown.
• Cook pasta. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
• Add sour cream, vegetables, 2 teaspoons basil, 2 tablespoons vinegar, and toss to combine.
• Crumble feta cheese over the top.

PENNE WITH ROASTED ASPARAGUS AND BALSAMIC BUTTER

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400.
• Snap the tough ends off the asparagus and discard them.
• Cut the spears into 1 inch pieces.
• Put the aspargus on a baking sheet and toss with the olive oil and 1/4 tsp.
• each of the salt and pepper.
• Roast until tender, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the vinegar in a small saucepan.
• Simmer until 3 T.
• remain.
• Stir in the brown sugar and the remainig 1/4 tsp.
• pepper.
• Remove from heat.
• Cook the penne in a large pot of boiling, salted water just until done, about 13 minutes.
• Drain the pasta and toss with the butter, vinegar, asparagus, Parmesan and the remaining 1 3/4 tsp.
• salt.
• Serve with additional Parmesan.