Smoked Réveillon Duck Breast And Confit Leg Recipes

DUCK, DUCK, DUCK: SMOKED BREAST, GRILLED FOIE GRAS AND BARBEQUED THIGHS

Steps:

• On 1 side of the grill only, prepare the coals and cover them with lots of pre-soaked hickory wood chips. Mix all the spices together and rub the duck breast vigorously. Place the breasts on the grill on the opposite side of the coals in a low heat grill. Smoke the breasts slowly at 275 degrees for about 1 hour.
• Mix together the cider, vinegar, garlic and pepper to make a marinade. Combine the marinade and duck thighs and store overnight in the refrigerator. Place in the grill with the breast of duck on the opposite side of the fire for about 1 hour. After the breasts and thighs have smoked for about 1 hour, remove them from the grill. Bring the coals up to medium high heat.
• Combine cherries and pears in a medium size saucepan and bring to a boil on the grill. Remove from heat and add vinegar. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Grilled Foie Gras: 6 ounces foie gras, cut into 4 pieces 3/4-inch thick, very, very cold, almost frozen Salt and pepper to taste Place fois gras over medium hot coals for 3 minutes. Carefully turn over and cook for 2 more minutes. Also place the smoked breast, skin side down, over the medium hot coals to crisp the skin. Remove the duck breast from the grill and slice on bias, 3/4-inch thick. Slice the thighs on bias 3/4-inch thick. Serve the breast, thighs and foie gras with the cherry sauce.

DUCK CONFIT, THE RIGHT WAY

Steps:

• Combine shallot, sugar, salt, pepper, garlic, and thyme in a small bowl. Rub all over duck legs, thighs, and wings.
• Arrange duck parts skin side-up in a dish and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until the seasoning is well absorbed, 24 to 48 hours.
• Rinse off the seasoning and pat the duck dry. Arrange duck in a single layer in a 9x13-inch baking pan. Let duck stand until it reaches room temperature, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 225 degrees F (110 degrees C).
• Melt duck fat in a saucepan over medium heat until bubbles begin to form, 6 to 8 minutes. Pour duck fat over the room-temperature duck.
• Bake duck in the preheated oven until tender and the juices run clear, 2 to 3 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 135 degrees F (57 degrees C). Pour off the duck fat.
• Brush a grill pan with some of the used duck fat and heat over medium-high heat until smoking. Add baked duck; cook in batches until skin is crispy, about 90 seconds per side.

SMOKED RéVEILLON DUCK BREAST AND CONFIT LEG

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine syrup, water, brown sugar, salt, seasoning and smoke flavoring. Add breasts, marinate for length of time duck legs are cooking.
• Place duck legs in cake pan. Add the rest of the dry cure (oil should cover about 1/2 up leg). Cover and cook at 250F for 3-4 hours. Allow to rest for time breasts are cooking. Change oven temp to 400°F.
• Season foie gras; sear on both sides in a hot skillet until golden brown. Remove from pan; reserve on paper towels.
• In same hot skillet, sear breasts duck fat side down; finish in 400F oven for 10-12 minutes (medium done).
• To prepare risotto, sauté garlic and shallots in olive oil. Remove garlic and shallots and reserve. Add rice and sauté until translucent (7-10 minutes), stirring constantly. Add bay leaf, thyme, garlic and shallots. In three stages, add warmed stock, stirring each time until liquid is almost absorbed then adding the next stage. First stage is 1 cup, second stage is 2 cups, and last stage is 1 cup. After stock has been totally added, fold in cheese and pecans. Let it sit, covered, for two to three minutes, and it will be ready to serve.
• For reduction, simmer ingredients in pot until mixture thickens, stirring occasionally. Season as needed.
• To plate, mound 1 cup of risotto in center of plate. Lay confit leg against the rice with drum leg up. Slice duck breast thin; fan around leg. Drizzle with reduction; top with foie gras.