Peppered Duck With Vanilla Mash Pea Wild Mushroom Ragout Recipes

PEPPERED DUCK WITH VANILLA MASH, PEA & WILD MUSHROOM RAGOUT

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and cut into chunks. Place them in a pan of cold, salted water and bring to the boil. Turn down the heat and simmer for 10 mins until tender, then drain in a colander. While they are draining, place the pan back on a low heat with the cream and vanilla pod and heat to infuse. Remove vanilla pod and take pan off the heat. Push the potatoes through a ricer back into the pan. Add the butter and seasoning, then beat to form a smooth mash. Set aside.
• Season the duck all over with salt and press the pepper into the skin side. Put the duck, skin-side down, in a cold frying pan and place over a low-medium heat. As the pan heats up, the duck will start to cook - you only want a gentle sizzle coming from the pan. If it is cooking too quickly, turn the heat down slightly. Cook for 10 mins, shaking the pan occasionally. When the skin is mahogany and crisp, flip the breasts over and cook on the flesh side for 5 mins more. This will give you duck that is slightly pink in the middle. Transfer the duck to a tray or plate and leave it to rest.
• Pour off all but 1 tsp fat from the duck pan, place pan back on the heat and cook the bacon for 3 mins until crisp. Turn up the heat, add the mushrooms and cook for 2 mins more. Splash in the Port, add the peas and stock, then simmer for 2 mins more. Pour any juices from the rested duck into the pan and season to taste.

PAPPARDELLE WITH MUSHROOMS AND DUCK

Steps:

• Soak the porcini in one cup boiling water for 30 minutes. Trim the stalks from the fresh mushrooms. Wash off any grit under cold running water or use a soft brush or clean towel to clean them (do not soak them or they will become soggy). Slice the mushrooms into one-and-a-half-inch pieces.
• Using a large skillet, soften the garlic and the shallots in two tablespoons butter and the tablespoon of oil.
• Strain the porcini through a paper towel, reserving the soaking liquid. Chop the porcini. Add the mushrooms to the skillet with the thyme, salt and pepper and red wine. Cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes. Add the porcini, cooking liquid and continue to cook over moderate heat until the sauce becomes thick and syrupy.
• Meanwhile, scrape the fat off the duck meat and cut the meat into strips. Then bring six quarts of salted water to a boil for the pappardelle.
• Add the duck meat to the sauce and cook it over moderate heat for 10 minutes. Correct the seasoning and keep the sauce warm.
• Drain the pappardelle and toss with the remaining tablespoon of butter. Spoon the sauce over the noodles, toss and serve.

PAN-ROASTED DUCK WITH WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Rinse dried mushrooms to remove sand or dirt and place in a bowl. Cover with boiling water and let steep for 30 minutes.
• Lay duck breasts skin-side down on a cutting board. With your fingers, remove the thin tenderloins from the underside of each breast and reserve for sauce. With a sharp knife, trim away any gristle. Turn breasts skin-side up and trim excess fat from the edges. Score the skins in a diamond pattern. Season generously with salt and pepper, transfer to a plate and leave at cool room temperature for 1 hour.
• Put olive oil in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. When hot, add the reserved tenderloins and brown well on both sides. Add butter and flour to pan, and cook, stirring, until mixture is lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add soaked mushrooms and soaking liquid, and stir well as sauce begins to thicken. Add wine, thyme and bay leaf, turn heat to low, and simmer gently until gravylike, but not too thick, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove and discard tenderloins, thyme and bay leaf. Taste sauce and adjust seasoning. Keep warm. (Sauce may be prepared several hours or up to 2 days in advance.)
• Set a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. When pan is hot, add duck breasts to skillet skin-side down and let sizzle. Lower heat to medium and cook for about 7 or 8 minutes, making sure skin doesn't brown too quickly. (This will render fat and crisp the skin.) Turn breasts over and cook 3 minutes more for rare (thermometer should read 120 degrees), or 4 to 5 minutes for medium-rare (thermometer should read 125 degrees). Transfer to a warm platter and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Pour off all but 2 tablespoons rendered fat from the pan, and raise heat to medium-high. Add sliced mushrooms and sauté, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes, letting them brown nicely. Season with salt and pepper. Turn off heat and stir in garlic and parsley.
• Slice duck 1/4-inch thick, crosswise at a slight angle, and serve immediately. Each serving should have 4 to 5 slices of duck, a large spoonful of mushrooms and a bit of sauce.

PEAS WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• In a skillet over medium heat, saute the mushrooms and onions in butter for 3-5 minutes. Add marjoram, salt if desired, pepper and nutmeg; mix well. Add peas and heat through.

SAUTEED DUCK BREASTS WITH WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Using sharp knife, score skin of duck breasts diagonally to create 3/4-inch-wide diamond pattern; pat dry. Sprinkle duck with salt and pepper. Heat heavy large skillet over high heat. Add duck breasts, skin side down. Cook until skin is deep golden brown, about 8 minutes. Turn duck over; cook about 3 minutes for medium-rare. Transfer to rimmed baking sheet and keep warm in oven.
• Pour all but 1 tablespoon drippings from skillet. Add oil. Reduce heat to medium-high. Add mushrooms and shallots and sauté until mushrooms are tender, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add wine and stir until juices thicken, scraping up browned bits, about 1 minute.
• Place 1 duck breast on each of 4 plates. Pour mushroom sauce over, sprinkle with parsley, and serve.

EASY PEPPERED PEAS & MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat skillet to med/high.
• Add 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp butter, onions, and mushrooms; sauté 3-5 minutes.
• Add defrosted peas; stir well.
• Add remaining olive oil, salt and pepper then stir.
• Lower heat to med- cook until heated thoroughly.