Cumin Cilantro Duck Breast With Apricot Jus And Japanese Eggplant Recipes

CUMIN CILANTRO DUCK BREAST WITH APRICOT JUS AND JAPANESE EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Heat a medium saucepan with 2 tablespoons of the canola oil over medium-high heat. Add the shallots, pink peppercorns, bay leaf and 2 of the thyme sprigs. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots are softened and translucent, 5 minutes. Add the sugar and 1/2 cup of the sherry vinegar. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until reduced au sec (or until there is barely anything left), a few minutes. Add the red wine and continue to reduce until almost completely dry, 5 to 6 minutes. Add 1 cup of the demi-glace and cook for 5 minutes until reduced and slightly thickened.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the apricots and cook until softened. Strain the sauce into the saucepan with the apricots a. Add the remaining 1/2 cup demi-glace and reduce for 5 minutes until thickened. Stir in the butter and remaining 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar and remove from the heat.
• Score the skin on the duck in a crosshatch pattern, being careful not to cut into the meat. Season the duck on both sides with salt and pepper. Gently heat a dry cast-iron pan over low. Place the duck skin-side down into the pan and begin to slowly render the duck fat. Very slowly and gently, cook until most of the fat has rendered, about 20 minutes. Flip the duck and cook on the flesh side for 3 to 4 minutes, basting with some of the duck fat using the remaining 2 thyme sprigs, until the duck reaches an internal temperature of 130 degrees F for medium rare. Remove from the pan and allow to rest. Reserve some of the duck fat.
• Mix together the ground cumin and cilantro stems in a small bowl. Brush the crispy duck skin with the honey. Crust the duck with the cumin and cilantro stem mixture, making sure to firmly press onto the duck to ensure it's nicely adhered. Slice the duck lengthwise.
• Season the eggplant with salt. Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat with some of the reserved duck fat. Place the eggplant into the pan, flesh-side down. Cook until the flesh is golden brown and crispy, about 5 minutes.
• Serve the duck with the apricot jus alongside the eggplant. Garnish with the toasted hazelnuts and microgreens.

DUCK BREASTS WITH APRICOT CHUTNEY

Steps:

• For chutney, in a saucepan, combine orange juice and sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Add the apricots, cherries, raisins, ginger, coriander, cumin, salt, pepper and cloves. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook until apricots are tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; stir in lemon juice. Let stand at room temperature for at least 2 hours., Season both sides of duck with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, saute duck, skin side down, in oil until skin is browned; turn and cook for 1 minute. Set aside 1 tablespoon drippings. , Place duck on a greased rack in a shallow roasting pan. Bake at 350° until meat reaches desired doneness (for medium, a thermometer should read 165°; well-done, 180°), 30-35 minutes. , For orange sauce, saute garlic in reserved drippings for 1 minute. Add wine; bring to a boil. Cook and stir until reduced by half. In a bowl, combine the cornstarch, orange juice, broth and orange zest until blended. Stir into wine mixture. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add butter and basil; whisk until smooth. Remove skin from duck if desired before slicing. Serve with orange sauce and chutney.,

CHINESE JERK SPICE DUCK BREAST WITH CAULIFLOWER PUREE

Steps:

• For the cranberry compote: Whisk together the sugar, rice vinegar and rum in a bowl, then pour into a saucepan. Add the cranberries and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook until reduced and syrupy and the cranberries are plump, 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature.
• For the cauliflower puree: Bring the cream to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the cauliflower and bring to a medium simmer. Cook until the cream is reduced by a third and the cauliflower is fork tender, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Transfer the cauliflower and half of the reduced cream to a food processor and process until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. If you want a thinner puree, add more cream.
• For the fried Brussels sprouts: Heat the vegetable oil in a deep fryer. Add the Brussels sprouts and fry until light golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Drain well and toss with salt and pepper to taste.
• For the duck breasts: Prepare a grill for medium-high heat. Whisk together the five-spice powder, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, brown sugar, thyme and 2 tablespoons each salt and pepper.
• Liberally coat the duck breasts on both sides with the spice mixture. Grill skin-side down until crispy and the fat is rendered, 3 to 5 minutes. Flip the breasts and continue cooking to an internal temperature of 140 to 150 degrees F, about another 3 minutes. Let rest for 5 to 7 minutes before slicing into 1/2-inch medallions.
• To serve: Arrange some slices of duck breast atop a smear of cauliflower puree. Top with compote and scatter fried Brussels sprouts around the plate.

JAPANESE-STYLE MARINATED DUCK BREAST

Steps:

• Combine all marinade ingredients in a large bowl or storage container, cover, refrigerate several hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 180°C.
• Remove duck breasts from marinade, reserve marinade.
• Cook duck breasts skin side down in a large fry pan until skin is browned and crispy and fat is rendered from skin.
• In an oven proof dish pour enough of the reserved marinade, so that the liquid will come about half way up each breast, discard the rest. Place duck breasts flesh side down in marinade and cook in oven for 20-25 minutes.
• Remove duck beasts and allow to rest for 5 minutes, slice thickly.
• If desired which I do. Skim off any excess fat from the surface of liquid, place pan over stove and mix a little water with some cornflour, add this to the marinade and thicken, serve as extra sauce with duck.
• For the Vegetables.
• Combine miso, mirin, sake, sugar, vinegar and soy sauce in a saucepan and heat over a medium heat to dissolve sugar, remove from heat and set to one side.
• Heat some oil in a wok or large frying pan, add all the vegetables and chili except the green onion, stir-fry 4-5 minutes until veg are just tender, you want them to still have a nice crunch.
• Add dressing and onion and stir until heated through.
• To Serve: Place a mound of the veg on a plate and top with sliced duck, drizzle with extra sauce and serve the rest on the side.