Duck Confit With Oranges And Watercress Recipes

DUCK CONFIT, THE RIGHT WAY

Steps:

• Combine shallot, sugar, salt, pepper, garlic, and thyme in a small bowl. Rub all over duck legs, thighs, and wings.
• Arrange duck parts skin side-up in a dish and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until the seasoning is well absorbed, 24 to 48 hours.
• Rinse off the seasoning and pat the duck dry. Arrange duck in a single layer in a 9x13-inch baking pan. Let duck stand until it reaches room temperature, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 225 degrees F (110 degrees C).
• Melt duck fat in a saucepan over medium heat until bubbles begin to form, 6 to 8 minutes. Pour duck fat over the room-temperature duck.
• Bake duck in the preheated oven until tender and the juices run clear, 2 to 3 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 135 degrees F (57 degrees C). Pour off the duck fat.
• Brush a grill pan with some of the used duck fat and heat over medium-high heat until smoking. Add baked duck; cook in batches until skin is crispy, about 90 seconds per side.

SHREDDED DUCK, WATERCRESS & ORANGE SALAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Pat the duck legs dry with kitchen paper and rub in the five-spice and some seasoning. Pour the vinegar, soy and orange juice into a small roasting tin and put the duck on top. Cover with foil and cook for 30 mins, then remove the foil and increase oven to 240C/220C fan/ gas 9, or put under the grill and cook until the skin is crisp. Remove and strain the liquid through a sieve. Let the duck cool until you can shred the meat from the bones. Skim fat from the liquid.
• Meanwhile, gently toss together the oranges, watercress, radishes, chicory and spring onions. Pour over reserved cooking liquid, then add the duck and arrange on a platter.

MAPLE-GLAZED DUCK WITH ORANGE & WATERCRESS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Place the duck legs on a wire rack, skin-side up, with a tray underneath to catch the fat. Put in the oven and roast for 1 hr. Meanwhile, to make the glaze, pour the soy sauce, maple syrup, honey and juice into a saucepan and bring up to the boil. Add the cinnamon stick and ginger and simmer until the glaze is sticky, then leave to cool.
• After 1 hr, turn the oven up to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Brush the glaze generously over the duck and continue to cook for 30 mins, brushing with glaze every 5 mins or so, until the duck is a deep mahogany with a caramelised crust. Remove from the oven and leave to rest.
• While the duck is roasting, make the dressing by whisking together all the ingredients, except the oil, in a pan. Simmer until reduced by half, then whisk in the oil. If you like, you can char the orange segments. Lay them on a metal baking tray and caramelise them with a blowtorch (you only need to colour one side). Don't blowtorch on parchment or a non-heat resistant plate.
• To serve, tip the watercress and orange segments into a large bowl and toss in half the dressing. Divide the salad between the plates, place a crispy duck leg on top and drizzle with a little extra dressing.

DUCK CONFIT WITH ORANGES AND WATERCRESS

Steps:

• With a sharp paring knife, cut peel and white pith from oranges, then cut each orange crosswise into 5 slices.
• Whisk together vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a bowl. Add oil in a slow stream, whisking until combined.
• Cook duck, skin side down, covered, in a large heavy nonstick skillet over medium-low heat until skin is well browned and crisp and duck is heated through, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Toss watercress and walnuts in a bowl with just enough dressing to coat. Divide orange slices among plates, then drizzle with any remaining dressing and top with salad and a duck leg.