Apple Duck Breasts Recipes

APPLE DUCK BREASTS

Steps:

• With the tip of a knife, do incisions like a checkerboard on the skin of the duck breasts, but DO NOT touch the flesh. In a large non-stick skillet, brown the breasts at high heat 4-5 minutes on each side, beginning with the skin side. Put the breasts in a not too deep ovenproof dish and keep cooking in a preheated oven of 350 F for about 8 minutes or until the flesh of the duck is slightly pink inside.
• Meanwhile, deglaze the skillet by keeping 2 tablespoon of the grease. Add shallots and apples at medium heat, stirring from time to time, for about 3 minutes or until apples are golden. Pour apple juice in the skillet scraping the bottom with a wood spoon to remove the browned bits. Cook for 5 minutes or until liquid has reduced by half. Add rosemary and stir. Add salt and pepper.
• When ready to serve, slice the duck breasts in bias ( / ) Distribute the slices in the plates and coat with the sauce.

DUCK BREAST WITH APPLE-POMEGRANATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a medium saute pan over medium-high heat and add the oil.
• Cut a crosshatch pattern into the skin of the duck breasts. Be careful to not cut through to the flesh.
• Season the skin side with the curry and the flesh side with salt. Place in the pan, skin side down. Cook on the skin side to render of some of the fat and crisp up the skin, 5 to 7 minutes. Once the skin is crisp, flip the breasts, reduce the heat to medium, and cook on the flesh side for about 4 minutes for medium-rare. Once cooked, remove from the pan and allow the meat to rest for 5 minutes.
• Make the sauce in the same pan used for the duck. (Wipe out the pan if you have burned bits on the bottom, and add some butter.) Place the pan over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon butter. Deglaze the pan with the pomegranate juice. Allow the juice to simmer and reduce by half. Turn off the heat and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Taste and season with a pinch of sugar if the sauce tastes too tart.
• When plating, slice the duck breast thinly and spoon the warm sauce over the duck. Serve with Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Goat Cheese and Sauteed Julienned Vegetables.
• Peel and slice the sweet potatoes into 1/2-inch pieces. Place the potatoes in a large saucepan, fill with water to cover the potatoes, and add some salt. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook the potatoes until fork tender, about 13 minutes. Stick a fork in a potato piece and if it goes in easily, it's done.
• Drain the potatoes well. Transfer them to a food processor and blend until smooth. Add the goat cheese, honey, ginger, cinnamon, butter, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Blend again until everything is well combined. Transfer to a bowl and let cool for 1 minute.
• Spoon the potatoes into a zip-top plastic bag or a pastry bag with a tip for piping, or spoon directly onto plates. If piping, cut a hole in the tip and pipe onto the plate.
• Heat a saute pan over medium heat and add some oil. Saute the julienned vegetables and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the vegetables are just softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Taste a bite and cook for another minute if the vegetables are still hard.

CRISPY DUCK & BAKED APPLES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 120C/fan 100C/gas ½. Pull any excess fat from the duck's cavity and use a roasting fork or skewer to prick the skin of the duck all over - do this lightly as you don't want to pierce the meat. Rub the duck generously inside and out with flaky sea salt, then lay, breast-side down, on a rack over a roasting tray. Roast the duck for 3 hrs, pricking again every now and then should you happen to pass by. While the duck is cooking, score a line gently around the middle of each apple and set aside (this stops them exploding when they cook).
• After 3 hrs, remove duck from the oven and turn the heat to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Sit the duck on a plate and carefully pour away most of the fat from the tin. Return the duck to the rack, right way up, and continue to roast for 30 mins. Put the apples in under the duck or around the side and roast for a final 30 mins. By now you should have the crispiest duck and apples on the verge of collapse. Leave the duck to rest for 10 mins, then carve and serve with the apples.

DUCK BREAST WITH FRIED APPLES

Steps:

• Heat the honey and cup of vinegar in a small saucepan for three to four minutes over a low heat.
• Remove from the heat and add the cinnamon, ginger and coriander. Season.
• Let the marinade cool.
• Make diagonal cuts with a sharp knife in the duck breasts (to facilitate the absorption of the marinade).
• Place the breasts side by side in a shallow baking tray and pour the marinade over them.
• Cover the pan with plastic wrap and leave to marinate in the refrigerator for two to three hours.
• Preheat the oven to 240°C.
• Drain off the marinade into a small saucepan and heat until reduced to half.
• Put the fillets in a baking tray and bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile heat the butter (or oil) in a nonstick pan and cook the apples for about 10 minutes until they acquire a golden color, turning them on all sides.
• Season and dust with cinnamon and sugar, and allow to cook until the sugar has dissolved.
• Add the rest of the apple cider and remove from heat.
• When the fillets are done, cover the baking tray with aluminium foil or baking paper and allow to settle for 12-13 minutes before serving, to help soften them.
• Serve with the apples and the sauce.