Penne Pasta With Duck Confit Mission Figs Balsamic Vinegar And Star Anise Infused Cream Sauce Recipes

SEARED DUCK BREAST WITH FIG SAUCE

Steps:

• For the duck breasts: Sprinkle each duck breast liberally with salt and pepper. Heat the vegetable oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat. Add the duck skin-side down and reduce the heat to low, cooking as the fat slowly renders and the skin becomes crispy, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Once the skin is crispy and golden brown, flip and continue cooking until a thermometer reads 128 to 130 degrees F when inserted into the thickest part of the breast (for medium-rare doneness), 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate or cutting board and allow to rest about 5 minutes. It will carryover cook to about 135 degrees F. Don't tent with foil in order to ensure the duck skin will stay crispy.
• For the fig sauce: Pour off all but 1 or 2 tablespoons of fat from the skillet, reserving the excess for another use. Over medium heat, add the shallots and cook until softened. Add the sherry and reduce by half. Next, add the chicken broth, fig jam and balsamic vinegar, and continue simmering until the sauce has thickened and is syrupy, another 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat, season with salt and pepper and whisk in the butter. Garnish with chopped chives.
• Serve the sauce alongside thinly sliced duck breast.

PENNE PASTA WITH DUCK CONFIT, MISSION FIGS, BALSAMIC VINEGAR AND STAR ANISE INFUSED CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350º.
• Fill a 6-quart pot with water and place over high heat. Once the water boils, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta and drizzle with oil and toss gently. This will prevent the pasta from sticking together while you prepare the sauce.
• In another pot, add the cream, star anise and 1 Tbsp. of fresh thyme. Reduce by half and reserve. This can be done in advance.
• Toss the figs with 1 Tbsp. oil and season with salt and pepper. Pour onto baking sheet and roast for 6 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to chill. Once cold, cut the fig halves in half again. This can also be done a day in advance.
• Place a 12-inch sauté pan over medium heat. Add the remaining 2 Tbsp. oil and bacon. Once the bacon has started to turn light brown, add the shallots. Continue stirring until the edges of the shallots start to brown, approximately 2 minutes.
• Add the remaining thyme and the balsamic vinegar. Reduce the vinegar until it coats the bottom of the pan. Add the shredded duck confit, figs and half of the cream. Bring to a simmer and add the pasta and parsley. Stir or flip the pasta with ingredients. You may want to add more cream at this point to gain sauce consistency. Remove pasta from heat. Allow to sit for 1 minute. Give a final seasoning with salt, pepper and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Top with parmesan and serve.

BALSAMIC FIG SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients with 1/2 cup water in a saucepan.
• Cover; bring to boil over high heat.
• Reduce to a simmer; cook, partially covered, until fruit has broken down, about 20 to 30 minutes.
• Let cool slightly; remove thyme sprig.
• Press mixture through a large-holed sieve with a rubber spatula.

BALSAMIC FIG VINEGAR

Steps:

• Bring figs, vinegar, and sugar to a simmer in a large saucepan. Cook, stirring occasionally over low heat, for 10 minutes. Cover, and let cool completely.
• Working in batches, puree mixture in a food processor until smooth.
• Strain through a fine sieve into a large nonreactive bowl.
• Line sieve with cheesecloth or coffee filter, and place over another large nonreactive bowl. Pour strained mixture into sieve. (Do not press solids in sieve.) Cover with plastic wrap, and let mixture strain in refrigerator overnight (or up to 2 days).
• Uncover, and remove sieve from bowl. Discard solids. Pour vinegar into a resealable nonreactive bottle or jar.
• (Vinegar can be refrigerated for up to 1 month.).