Parsnips And Potatoes Roasted In Duck Fat With Thyme Recipes

DUCK FAT POTATOES - THE WORLD'S CRISPIEST, BEST ROAST POTATOES!

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes, then cut into 7.5cm / 3" pieces (Note 4).
• Preheat oven to 230°C/450°F (230°C fan).

ROASTED DUCK FAT POTATOES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss together the potatoes, duck fat, salt and pepper. Lay thyme sprigs and bay leaves on top.
• Roast for 30 minutes, then toss the garlic into the potatoes and reduce oven heat to 350 degrees. Continue to roast until potatoes are fork-tender, another 15 to 25 minutes. Remove thyme and bay leaves and serve, or let cool for up to an hour then reheat, uncovered, at 350 degrees just before serving.

DUCK FAT-ROASTED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Use a paring knife to remove the peel from the garlic and shallots. Remove the root-ends of the shallots, then thinly slice. Add duck fat to a medium heavy-bottomed pot over high heat. Add the garlic cloves and cook, stirring often, until garlic begins to brown, 2-3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium; add sliced shallots and ½ tablespoon salt. Stir to combine with the duck fat and cook, 3-4 minutes. Then turn heat to low and cook until lightly caramelized, about 20 minutes.
• After 20 minutes, the shallots should have light caramelization and the garlic cloves should be soft and golden brown. Remove from heat. Place potatoes in a baking dish large enough to hold them in an even layer. Pour the duck fat mixture over the potatoes, followed by wine and stock. Season with remaining ½ tablespoon salt. Lay thyme sprigs over the top, then tightly cover with aluminum foil. Roast for 1 hour.
• After 1 hour, remove potatoes from the oven. Check for doneness by piercing a larger potato with a knife. If there's no resistance, the potatoes are done. Discard thyme sprigs; then mix in the olives. Let rest so the flavors marry together, 1 hour. Rewarm in oven at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes before serving.

DUCK FAT ROASTED POTATOES

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat add the duck skin and water and cook until the water has evaporated, the fat has rendered out of the skin (the yield will range from about 1/2 cup to 1 cup depending on the size of the duck), and the skin is brown and crispy. Strain.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the duck fat, potatoes, garlic, pinch salt, thyme, and rosemary. Toss together to coat well. Cook 5 minutes on the stovetop and then place the skillet in the oven for 5 minutes, or until the potatoes are nicely browned and tender.
• Serve with a garlic aioli, and garnish with chopped cracklins and sea salt.

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.