Spiced Balsamic Duck With Plums And Couscous Food

ROASTED DUCK BREAST WITH PLUM SAUCE

Steps:

• For the sauce, fry the shallot in the oil for 5 mins or until softened but not coloured. Add the plums and sugar, stirring for a few mins until the sugar has dissolved. Add the red wine and stock, then simmer for about 15 mins, stirring occasionally, until softened and slightly thickened. Keep warm or leave at room temperature for up to a day before reheating to serve.
• Meanwhile, heat the oven to 180C/ 160C fan/gas 4. Score the skin of the duck breasts with a sharp knife and season well with salt and pepper. Heat a non-stick frying pan and place the duck breasts in, skin-side down. Fry for 6-7 mins, then turn and add the thyme, star anise and butter. Allow this to melt, basting the duck with the juices, then transfer everything to a small roasting tin and finish in the oven for 5-6 mins for pink or 10-12 mins for well done.
• When the duck is ready, baste again with the juices, then rest for 5 mins while you finish everything else.
• To serve, thinly slice each duck breast on a chopping board. Arrange on each plate along with a spoon of the Creamed potatoes, some of the plum sauce and the Buttered spinach.

ROAST SPICED DUCK WITH PLUMS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 4. Toast the star anise and coriander seeds in a dry pan until aromatic. Tip the toasted spices into a spice grinder with 2 tsp sea salt and grind into a fine powder (or crush using a pestle and mortar). Put the spice salt in a bowl, add the sugar, mix well and set aside.
• Lightly score the skin of the duck in a criss-cross pattern and heat the oil in a large casserole. Using a pair of tongs to turn it, brown the duck well on all sides, pour off the excess fat, then sit the duck breast-side up and season all over with the sugar and spice mix. Pack the plums around the outside, then scatter over the bay and pour over the vinegar and stock.
• Roast in the oven for 2 hrs or until the duck is golden and the plums have broken down. Turn the oven right up for 10 more mins to crisp up the skin. Take the duck out of the pan to rest for 10 mins and spoon the excess fat off the plums. Carve the duck and serve with a good spoonful of plums.

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.

PAN-SEARED FIVE-SPICE DUCK BREAST WITH BALSAMIC JUS

Steps:

• In a large, heavy self-sealing plastic bag, combine the garlic, ginger, five-spice powder, salt, and pepper. Add the duck breasts, seal, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours. Remove from the refrigerator 1 hour before cooking.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C/gas 6. In a large ovenproof sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Sear the duck breast, skin side down, for 5 minutes; turn and sear for 5 minutes on the other side. Transfer the pan to the oven and roast for 5 minutes for medium-rare. Transfer the duck breasts to a plate and keep warm.
• To make a balsamic jus, pour off the fat from the pan. Return the pan to medium-high heat, add the wine, and stir to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook to reduce the wine by half. Add the balsamic vinegar and cook to reduce for several more minutes.
• Cut the duck breasts into diagonal slices and serve drizzled with the balsamic jus.

FIVE-SPICE GRILLED DUCK WITH CITRUS SAUCE AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• De-bone the duck and cut it into 4 pieces, reserving the bones for later use. In a large bowl, combine the five-spice blackening powder, sugar, and tea. Place the duck pieces in the bowl, and let the meat marinate for 1 hour. Heat a grill pan or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add enough oil to coat the surface of the pan, and let the oil heat. Season the duck pieces with salt, if desired. Carefully add the duck pieces to the pan and reduce the heat to medium. Grill until cooked to desired degree of doneness, turning each piece with tongs halfway through cooking. Serve with Citrus Sauce, Couscous, baby spinach and mango slices, if desired.
• Combine the citrus juices and zest, sugar, mustard, and eggs, and whisk well. Slowly drizzle in the oil, whisking constantly until the mixture becomes thick. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Drizzle sauce over duck.
• Toast the trail mix in a dry medium skillet over medium-low heat until fragrant and golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the dry couscous to the skillet and continue to toast the mixture for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon. Remove pan from heat. In a large saucepot, combine the chicken stock and the duck stock and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the toasted trail mix and couscous mixture to the pot. Stir until incorporated and then cover the pot with a lid. Lower the heat to medium-low and allow the couscous to simmer until it absorbs the liquid. Fluff couscous with a fork and serve.
• Place the duck bones in a large pot and add enough water to cover bones. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and then reduce the heat to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Let simmer for 2 hours. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

BALSAMIC COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over low heat. Saute onion and garlic slowly until tender, approximately 15 minutes.
• Stir in chicken broth and bring to a boil.
• Add couscous, cover pan, remove from heat, and let stand for 5 - 10 minutes.
• Pour couscous into a bowl and top with vinegar, salt and pepper. Stir until combined. You may wish to add less or more vinegar depending on what you like. 3T works for us.

HONEY SPICED DUCK

Steps:

• Score the duck breast skin in a criss-cross fashion.
• Blend the honey, vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, five spice powder and pepper in a small bowl.
• Coat the duck in this marinade in a shallow bowl.
• Cover and leave for 1 hour or overnight.
• Set the oven to fairly hot, 200c/400f.
• Put the duck on a rack in a roasting tin, reserving the marinade.
• Cook for 20-30 minutes depending on their size and how well you like your duck cooked.
• Put the marinade and 40mls of the roasting juices in a small pan.
• Add the spring onions and bring to the boil.
• Simmer gently for 2 minutes.
• I serve the duck on a bed of rice with the sauce and spring onions spooned over, and sometimes some cranberry sauce to finish.

SPICE-RUBBED DUCK BREASTS WITH PLUM SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the rub: in a bowl, combine all the rub ingredients; set aside.
• Use a sharp knife to trim excess fat from the duck breasts; if skin is very fatty, trim it to a thickness of ¼ inch.
• Score the skin in a diamond pattern.
• Coat both sides of the breasts evenly with the rub; cover with plastic wrap and marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes or in the refrigerator for up to several hours.
• Make the plum sauce: in a small saucepan over medium heat, stir the plum jam until liquefied and bubbling, 3-4 minutes.
• Add in the remaining sauce ingredients; cook and whisk frequently until smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Let the sauce cool to room temperature before serving.
• Grill the breasts, skin side down over Direct Low heat, until the internal temperature reaches 160°, 11-13 minutes, turning once halfway through the grilling time.
• The juices should be slightly pink, the skin golden brown and crisp.
• Remove from the grill and let rest 3-4 minutes.
• Slice thinly on the bias and serve warm with the sauce.

SPICED BALSAMIC DUCK WITH PLUMS AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Spiced Balsamic Vinegar:
• Combine vinegar, sugar, garlic, chilli and star anise in a small saucepan stir over low heat for 4 minutes or until sugar has dissolved. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer for 5 minutes or until reduced by one-third and slightly thickened. Remove the flavourings and discard. Set aside.
• Duck:
• Season the duck breasts well with salt and pepper.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium high heat and place the duck breasts in skin-side down. Cook 6 minutes until crispy, then turn over and cook a further 4 or until done to your liking. It's normal to serve duck breast cooked medium to rare. Rest for 5 minutes before serving
• While the duck is resting, pour the boiling stock over the couscous and set aside covered for 5 minutes. Stir the butter through with a fork fluffing up well.
• Place the plums in the reduction and reheat gently.
• Slice duck breasts and serve them and the plums over couscous.