Five Spice Duck Tostada With Ginger Chile Cream Dressing Recipes

FIVE-SPICE DUCK

Steps:

• To make the five-spice rub, put the fennel, cinnamon, star anise, Szechwan peppercorns (or cardamom), cloves, and chipotle pepper in a small pan over medium heat and toast for a few minutes until aromatic, shaking the pan. Let cool, then grind the toasted spices in a spice mill or clean coffee grinder. Transfer the ground spices to a bowl. Add the ginger, garlic, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine well.
• Pat spice rub generously all over the skin of the ducks, place them on a rack over a roasting pan, and refrigerate them, uncovered, for at least 2 hours, or, preferably overnight.
• Preheat a grill.
• When you are ready to cook the ducks, place them on a rotisserie over a grill with a drip pan set directly under the ducks. Keep the fire fairly low to avoid flare ups. Cook the ducks until the juices run clear and an instant read thermometer inserted into the thigh reads 175 degrees F, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Remove the ducks from the rotisserie and carve them into breast and leg-thigh portions.

DUCK (OR CHICKEN) & CHILE MOLE TOSTADAS

Steps:

• For the MOLE: Pull the stems off the chiles and shake out the seeds.
• Set the seeds aside.
• Wipe off the chiles with a damp paper towel.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a heavy skillet.
• Working in batches, add the chiles and fry until toasty but not dark brown.
• If they get too dark, they become bitter so watch carefully.
• Add more oil as needed.
• As chiles are done, transfer them to a bowl.
• Add a little oil to the chile-toasting pan and toast the bread slices in it.
• (You could also brush the slices with oil and toast them in a 350 degrees oven for 12 to 15 minutes.) Using the same pan, toast 1/4 cup reserved chile seeds until brown but not burned.
• Remove from pan and set aside.
• Add the sesame seeds to the pan and toast until browned.
• If more oil is needed, add it by the teaspoonful.
• Remove the seeds from the pan and set aside.
• Cut the tomatoes and onions in half and rub with olive oil.
• Place on a baking sheet and broil for about 10 to 12 minutes, turning them once, until slightly charred (this gives the mole even more flavour).
• Put half of the chiles, bread, tomatoes, onion, garlic and 1 cup broth in a blender and puree.
• Transfer to a large pot.
• Repeat with the remaining chiles, bread, tomatoes, onion and garlic.
• Add 1 cup broth; puree.
• Put half of the peppercorns, cloves, chile seeds and sesame seeds in a spice grinder and grind to a powder.
• Add to the pot.
• Repeat.
• Add the chocolate to the pot along with the salt and remaining chicken stock.
• Simmer over low heat for 45 minutes.
• Remove from heat and let cool for 30 minutes, then strain.
• Tear the poultry into bite-size pieces (discard bone, skin and fat) and heat in the mole sauce just until warm.
• Serve with rice or Tostada Mix.
• TOSTADA Mix: Toss the cabbage, radishes and cilantro in a large bowl.
• Whisk together the garlic, salt, lemon juice, vinegar, brown sugar, cumin, red pepper flakes and olive oil until emulsified.
• Add half of the dressing to the slaw and toss.
• Taste, and add more dressing if desired.
• To serve tostaditas or tostadas: Place a couple of heaping tablespoons of chicken (or turkey or duck) mole on a crisped tortilla and top with slaw.
• Garnish with a sprinkling of feta cheese.

FIVE SPICE SEARED DUCK - ASIAN GREENS SPRING ROLL

Steps:

• For the duck: Rub the breasts with half of the sesame oil and season with five spice powder and salt. In a hot saute pan add the remaining oil and sear the duck breast, skin side down, until skin had started to get crisp. Turn the breasts over and sear on the other side for one minute, then turn skin side down again and transfer pan to a 400 degree oven and cook until duck is medium. About 6 minutes. Remove breasts and set aside. When meat is cool enough to cut, slice very thin.
• For the spring rolls: Lay a spring roll wrapper on a flat surface, then add a small amount of Asian greens, carrot and cucumber to the center of the wrapper. Lay three or four slices of duck on top of the vegetables. Fold each side of the wrapper in towards the center so the sides just touch. Then carefully roll the spring roll up tightly making sure the seal is tight. Repeat process until all rolls are completed.
• For the vinegar: In a large bowl add all ingredients together and whisk.

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.