Duck Breasts With Pomegranate Walnut Sauce Recipes

DUCK BREASTS WITH POMEGRANATE-WALNUT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté until golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in cinnamon and allspice, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add walnuts, pomegranate molasses, 1 3/4 cups pomegranate seeds, and veal and chicken stocks. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until reduced and thickened, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat, set aside.
• Score duck in a crosshatch pattern. Season with salt and pepper. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add duck breasts, skin-side down, and cook until most of the fat has rendered and the breasts are almost cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes. Turn breasts over, and cook until medium-rare, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from skillet; set aside. Let rest 10 minutes before slicing.
• Transfer duck breasts to a work surface, skin-side down. Thinly slice on the bias. Transfer to plates, and top with sauce. Garnish with mint and the remaining 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds. Serve with potatoes and salad, if desired.

SEARED DUCK BREAST WITH POMEGRANATE MOLASSES

Steps:

• Season the duck breasts generously with salt. Place both duck breasts in a saute pan large enough to accommodate without crowding. Bring the pan to a medium-low heat to render the fat from the duck. Periodically remove the fat as a lot of it begins accumulate in the saute pan. This is a low and slow process, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Once the fat has rendered and the duck skin is crispy and brown, once again remove the excess fat from the pan. Turn the heat up to medium-high and flip the duck to sear the bottom. Once the bottom is brown turn the duck so skin side is down. Add the pomegranate molasses and thyme to the pan. Cook until the molasses starts to get thick and syrupy. Turn the duck over for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove the duck from the pan and let rest for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the thyme bundle and add the pomegranate seeds. If the mixture is very thick add a few drops of water to loosen things up.
• Once the duck has rested, slice it on the bias and serve drizzled with the reduced molasses and seeds.
• Just Ducky!!

ROAST DUCK BREASTS WITH POMEGRANATE-CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• For sauce:
• Stir sugar and 1/2 cup water in heavy large saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; boil until syrup is deep amber color, swirling pan occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add juice, broth, and California chiles. Boil until sauce is reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat; cool. Puree in tightly covered blender until smooth, about 2 minutes. Transfer to bowl. Whisk in adobo sauce, vinegar, and cumin. Season to taste with generous amount of coarse salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 week ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm over low heat before using.
• For duck:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Score skin of duck (don't cut into flesh) with 5 cuts in 1 direction; repeat in opposite direction, making diamond pattern. Sprinkle duck all over with coarse salt, pepper, and ground coriander. Place 2 large ovenproof skillets over medium-high heat. Add duck, skin side down, to skillets, dividing equally. Cook duck until skin is crisp and deep brown, about 7 minutes. Turn duck over; cook 1 minute. Pour off fat. Transfer skillets to oven. Roast duck until cooked to mediumrare, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer duck to cutting board. Let rest 5 minutes. Thinly slice each breast crosswise on slight diagonal. Arrange slices on plates. Spoon sauce over. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds.
• Available at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores and Latin markets.
• ** Dried, smoked jalapeños in a spicy tomato sauce called adobo; available at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores and Latin markets.

FESENJAN - DUCK WITH POMEGRANATE & WALNUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Gently fry the duck breasts in oil, skin side down for 5-10 minutes, until they release their fat. Add the onion, garlic and salt and pepper. Fry until onion is soft, stirring occasionally. Once the skin has browned, turn the heat up and brown the flesh side. Remove the duck from the pan and leave in a warm place.
• Pour the duck fat from the onions and reserve fat for another use. Add the pomegranate molasses, chicken stock, walnuts and a little sugar to taste. Stir well, bring to a simmer then return the duck to the pan. Continue cooking until the duck is medium rare. Rest the duck for 5 minutes while you reduce the liquid to sauce consistency.

DUCK BREAST WITH POMEGRANATE GLAZE

Steps:

• For the glaze and sauce:.
• Combine the pomegranate molasses and vinegar in a small saucepan over high heat.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and add the honey; mix well.
• Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, until the mixture has reduced by about half (about 2/3 cup).
• Remove from the heat.
• Transfer half of the glaze (1/3 cup) to a separate small saucepan over medium-low heat.
• Add the reduced stock or broth and stir to combine; keep warm.
• For the duck:.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Use a knife to lightly score the skin on the duck breasts in a crosshatch pattern; do not cut through to the flesh.
• Season both sides of the breasts with salt and pepper to taste.
• Place skin side down in the hot skillet. (You may need to use 2 pans or do this in batches.).
• Cook for 7 to 8 minutes, until nicely browned, then turn the breasts over and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on the second side (for medium-rare).
• Brush the duck breasts generously on both sides with the reserved 1/3 cup of pomegranate molasses-red wine vinegar glaze (there may be glaze left over).
• Tent loosely with aluminum foil and let rest for 5 minutes.
• Finishing the sauce:.
• Return the pomegranate glaze-stock/broth mixture to medium-low heat.
• When it is heated through, add the remaining tablespoon of butter, stirring to combine.
• Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
• Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, as needed.
• Finishing the dish:.
• When ready to serve, cut the duck breasts into quarter-inch slices.
• Fan the slices on individual plates and drizzle the sauce over the duck.
• If desired, sprinkle with pomegranate seeds.
• Serve hot or warm.

MUSCOVY DUCK BREASTS WITH POMEGRANATE-WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots; sauté until golden brown, about 18 minutes. Add garlic; sauté 3 minutes. Add 1 cup white wine and 3/4 cup red wine. Boil until most of liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes. Add both broths, orange juice, pomegranate molasses, 1 teaspoon marjoram, and bay leaf; boil until mixture is reduced to 2 cups, about 20 minutes. Discard bay leaf. (Sauce can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.)
• Set rack at lowest position in oven; preheat to 450°F. Rub meat side of duck breasts with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2 teaspoons marjoram. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Working in batches, sear breasts, skin side down, in heavy large skillet over high heat until skin browns and fat is rendered, about 8 minutes.
• Transfer duck breasts, skin side down, to rimmed baking sheet. Drain all but 1 1/2 tablespoons fat from skillet; reserve skillet. Roast duck until thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 145°F for medium-rare, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring sauce to simmer. Rewarm duck fat in reserved skillet over medium heat. Add flour; stir 1 minute. Gradually whisk in sauce.
• Transfer duck breasts to cutting board. Pour off all fat from baking sheet. Add 1/4 cup white wine to sheet and scrape up browned bits; add to sauce. Simmer sauce 3 minutes to blend flavors. Season with salt and pepper. Thinly slice duck breasts and divide among 8 plates. Drizzle with sauce.
• *Available at some supermarkets and Middle Eastern markets, and by mail at adrianascaravan.com.