Seared Muscovy Duck Breast With Black Pepper Sweet Mustard Sauce And Soft Mascarpone Polenta With Asparagus And Leeks Food

ROAST DUCK BREAST WITH CRANBERRY SAUCE AND MASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/390F/Gas 6.
• Heat a frying pan until medium hot, then add the duck skin-side down and fry for 2-3 minutes to render out the fat from under the skin. Drain the fat off carefully, discard, then return the pan to the heat with the duck.
• Add the star anise, orange zest, orange juice and half of the port to the pan. Bring to a simmer, turn the duck over (so that it is skin-side up) to coat in the liquid, then place into the oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the duck is golden-brown and cooked but still slightly pink in the middle. Transfer the duck to a warm plate to rest.
• Return the pan to the heat and bring to a simmer, then stir in the remaining port and cook for 1-2 minutes. Whisk in 50g/2oz of the butter until melted, then season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Keep warm over a very low heat.
• Heat a frying pan until hot, add the remaining butter, winter greens and a splash of water. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the greens are tender. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Keep warm.
• For the cranberry chutney, place 75ml/3fl oz water with the sugar and spices into a pan and bring to the boil. Add the fresh and dried cranberries and the port and return to the boil, cooking for a further 3-4 minutes, mashing the cranberries down as they soften into a thick, slightly sticky consistency.
• For the celeriac mash, place the celeriac and potatoes into a pan of salted water, bring to the boil and simmer for 12-15 minutes, or until tender. Drain, return to the pan and heat to drive off any excess moisture. Transfer the celeriac and potato to a food processor and blend to a smooth purée. Add the olive oil and butter, season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper and pulse once more to combine.
• To serve, pile the winter greens onto the centre of each serving plate. Spoon some of the celeriac and potato purée alongside. Thickly slice the duck and lay over the top of the greens, spoon the chutney alongside and drizzle the sauce over.

ROAST MUSCOVY DUCK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475 degrees.
• Cut off and reserve the wing tips and second wing joint of the duck. Leave the main wing bone intact. Remove the fat from inside the duck and rub it all over the duck.
• Sprinkle the duck, inside and out, with salt and pepper to taste. Brush the duck with the oil.
• Arrange the duck breast-side up in a roasting pan. Add the cutoff wing bones, gizzard and cavity fat. Bake 30 minutes and pour off the fat from the roasting pan. Return the duck to the oven and scatter the celery, onion, carrot, bay leaf, thyme and garlic around the duck. Bake 15 minutes longer if you wish the duck to be medium rare. Or bake it 30 minutes or longer if you wish your duck well done.
• Transfer the duck to a warm platter. Pour the fat from the roasting pan, leaving the vegetables in the pan. Place the pan on the stove and cook the vegetables briefly, stirring. Add the wine and let boil about one minute.
• Add the broth and accumulated cavity drippings from the duck and cook, stirring, about five minutes. Strain the broth and solids, pushing the solids with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible.
• Heat the butter in a small saucepan, swirling it around until it takes on a nice hazelnut color. Do not burn. Pour the butter over the duck. Carve and serve with the hot pan sauce.