Pan Seared Duck Served With Parsnip Puree Recipes

JACQUES'S SKILLET DUCK WITH PARSNIPS AND SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Separating the duck:
• Cut off most of the fatty flap of neck skin and reserve. Insert a sharp knife into 1 breast near the shoulder joint and slice - in a semicircle - around the wishbone. Slide your finger in back of wishbone and pry it out.
• To remove the legs, lift the duck by one leg and cut through the skin all around the thigh, including the meaty piece along the backbone, called the "oyster." Grasp the leg at the knee and pull back the thigh, to expose the joint. Cut through it and pull the leg off the carcass in 1 piece. Repeat to remove the other leg. Cut the drumsticks from the thigh pieces.
• To remove the breast halves, slice along both sides of the breastbone. Lay the duck on its side, and cut through the upper shoulder joint. Hold the carcass down by the neck with one hand, grasp the shoulder section with the other, and pull off the entire breast half, in 1 piece. Repeat on the other side. Pull out the 2 slim meaty filets that remain on either side of the breastbone.
• Chop off the wing tips. Cut around the wing on 1 breast piece to free it from the breastbone; separate the largest wing joint from the other 2. Repeat on the other side.
• You should now have 12 pieces to put in the pan: 2 large breast pieces, 2 thighs, 2 drumsticks, 2 small breast filets, and 4 wing pieces.
• Finally, trim any loose, fatty flaps of skin from the carcass, the breast, or the leg pieces.
• Frying the duck:
• Set the pan over moderate heat. Slice the reserved neck skin into 3 or 4 strips and put them in the pan to begin rendering fat. Season the duck pieces with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and the 1/4 teaspoon pepper. When there's enough fat to film the pan bottom, lay in all the pieces, skin side down (you can push aside the strips of neck skin, but leave them in the pan).
• Raise the heat to medium-high, and cook skin side down and uncovered. The duck skin will shrink and color, and lots of fat will accumulate in the pan. Check the underside of the pieces once or twice t make sure they are not burning; lower the heat slightly if necessary. Fry until the skin on all the pieces is well browned and quite crisp; the whole process should take 20 to 25 minutes.
• Turn the heat down to low. Leave the duck pieces on their skin - they should be half submerged in fat - and strew the parsnip pieces, shallots, and garlic cloves all around them in the pan. Add the rosemary and bay leaves, and sprinkle over 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Cover the pan, turn down the heat to low, and cook for 30 minutes. Check occasionally to make sure that the duck is gently steaming; adjust the heat as necessary.
• When the duck and vegetables are tender - pierce with a sharp knife to check - turn off the heat. Immediately lift the duck and vegetable pieces from the pan with the spoon or skimmer, allowing the fat to drain, and arrange on a serving platter.
• Pour off the clear duck fat from the pan - you will have 1 1/2 cups or so - and save for other uses. Add 1 cup of water to the pan, bring to a boil, scraping with a wooden spatula to melt all the solidified juice, and pour over the duck. Scatter chopped parsley over and serve.
• A Côtes du Rhône, Syrah, or Grenache-type wine would be good with this duck.

PAN SEARED DUCK SERVED WITH PARSNIP PUREE

Steps:

• Start preparing your sweet potato croquettes. They will have to chill in the fridge before deep frying so they are stiffer. Grate skin off sweet potatoes. Once cleaned, grate sweet potato into thin slices into a large mixing bowl.
• Finely chop 1 onion and place in bowl with sweet potato. Add your feta, eggs and breadcrumbs.
• Mix this all together well and place in fridge to chill.
• Heat up your grape seed oil in a small saucepan. Once hot, add the other chopped onion and sliced garlic cloves. Cook until onion is a clear colour.
• Add butter, 50ml of your cream and 3 chopped parsnips. Cook until parsnips are soft enough to puree (around 10-12 minutes). You will need to stir regularly during this process so you don't burn the puree.
• While that is cooking, wash excess blood off your duck breasts and sprinkle course sea salt over the skin side of the breasts.
• Start to heat up your oil until it starts to lightly smoke from the heat. Place the duck skin side down in the pan and cook for around 8 minutes until the skin is darkened and crispy.
• By now your puree should almost be ready, so take it off the heat and put it through a sieve so that all the solids are separate. Place all solids into a blender or food processor and add remaining cream. Blend until a very smooth paste forms.
• When you have your paste, put it in a bowl and slowly add the remaining butter mixture you used while cooking until you get a medium thick puree consistency. Place one side until serving.
• Turn your duck breast over and cook on the meat side for another 3 minutes until a medium rare stage.
• While the duck is cooking, heat up for frying oil in a deep fryer or deep pan. Quickly roll your croquette mixture into balls or small sausage shapes. Once all the mixture is rolled, place then in the oil (in basket or straight in if you don't have one) and cook until golden.
• By now your duck should be ready. Take off the heat and place on a chopping board to rest for approximately 10 minutes.
• Take your croquettes out the pool and place them on kitchen paper to drain excess oil. Quickly peel a parsnip into fine strips and fry those to make chips. When they are ready they will be a golden colour (3 minutes).
• Heat up your puree slightly. Once warm, place a tablespoon in the middle of the plate and smear into large circle. Slice your duck into thin slices, and place around 4-5 cuts onto the middle of the puree. Top that with parsnip chips and watercress. On the side, add 2 croquettes. Serve immediately.

PAN SEARED DUCK BREAST WITH BLACK-EYED PEA FRITTERS AND CARAMELIZED ORANGE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat a saute pan over medium heat. Season duck and place skin side down on hot saute pan and sear for about 5 minutes. Place pan into the oven and cook for 10 minutes more leaving duck on the skin side. When desired temperature is reached, remove from oven and let rest for 3 minutes. Keep warm. Serve with Caramelized Orange Relish and Black-eyed Pea Fritters.
• Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Quickly sear the oranges until brown. Transfer to a bowl and chill. Place cranberries and orange juice in a food processor. Process for about 15 seconds or until evenly chopped. Place sugar, caramelized oranges, and ginger in a medium bowl. Stir in the cranberry mixture. Add sage, mint and vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Soak black-eyed peas in hot water for 30 minutes. Drain. Squeeze and remove skin. Combine peas, onions, pepper flakes, red bell pepper, scallions, salt and sugar in a food processor. Process until very smooth. Add 4 to 6 tablespoons of water if necessary. You should not feel any lumps when you rub mixture between your fingers.
• In large pot heat oil to 325 degrees. Stir batter vigorously to remove air bubbles. Scoop up a spoonful of the batter and drop into the oil. Fry until golden, about 4 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.

PAN-SEARED DUCK BREAST WITH BLUEBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl mix together the salt, ground black pepper, thyme, and rosemary; set aside. This will be your spice blend for seasoning the roasted potatoes and the duck breasts.
• Place cubed potatoes into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle 2 tablespoons of your spice blend over the top of the potatoes. Toss the potatoes in the pan until they are evenly coated with oil and seasonings. Spread into a single layer across the bottom of the baking dish and bake for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven.
• While the potatoes are roasting, stir together the blueberries, water, apple juice, sugar, and jalapeno in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low, and simmer until the mixture has reduced to the consistency of syrup, about 10 minutes.
• Cook the pancetta in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove the pancetta to drain on a paper towel, leaving the drippings in the skillet. Add the shallots and the mushrooms to the hot skillet; stir and cook them until soft and just beginning to brown. Remove the shallots and mushrooms and set aside. Increase heat to medium-high and place the bok choy in the hot skillet. Stir and cook the bok choy until the leaves are wilted and the white stalk pieces are tender, about 5 minutes. Return the shallots, mushrooms, and pancetta to the skillet, turn off the heat and set aside.
• Rinse the duck breast halves and pat dry. Rub the remaining spice blend onto both sides of the duck breasts. Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat, when the pan is hot put in the vegetable oil and butter. Immediately place the duck breasts in the pan, skin and fat side down. Do not move the duck breasts until the skin is deep brown, about 5 minutes. Turn the breasts and cook until the internal temperature of the thickest part is 160 degrees F (71 degrees C) for well done. Remove the duck from the pan and place on a plate, covered with foil to rest for 5 minutes. While the duck is resting, place the skillet with the bok choy mixture onto a burner over medium heat to warm through.
• Slice each duck breast diagonally into 1/2 inch strips. Divide the bok choy mixture among four plates and drizzle each serving with 1/2 tablespoon of aged balsamic vinegar. Arrange the sliced duck breasts on top of the bok choy mixture; ladle on blueberry sauce. Serve with oven-roasted potatoes on the side.

PAN SEARED DUCK BREAST WITH PUMPKIN POLENTA

Steps:

• To make the marinade, combine the ginger, clove, vanilla bean and wine in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add 2 of the minced shallots. Set aside until cool. Place the duck breasts in a large bowl. Add the marinade. Cover. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours, turning once. Take the duck breasts out of the marinade. Pat dry and set aside until the breasts reach room temperature. Strain the marinade and reserve.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Brush a pie plate with 1 teaspoon of the oil. Set aside. Pour 1 cup of the chicken broth in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low. Gradually add the cornmeal. Add the pumpkin puree. Whisk constantly until smooth, about 5 minutes. Spread the cornmeal into the pie plate. Place in the warm oven.
• Heat the remaining oil in a heavy-bottom skillet. Add the duck, fat side down, and cook over medium-high heat until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Turn the duck over, lower the heat to medium and cook until medium rare, about 3 more minutes. Remove the duck and set aside. Pour the marinade into the pan. Add the remaining shallots. Simmer over high heat until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining broth and simmer until reduced to 1 cup, about 5 to 10 minutes. Strain. Set aside.
• Remove the polenta from the oven. Cut into 8 wedges. Place 2 pieces on each of 4 plates. Cut the duck into thin strips crosswise and arrange around the polenta. Drizzle each plate with 2 tablespoons of sauce. Garnish with sage. Serve immediately.