Confit Of Duck With Herbed Potato Cakes Recipes

POTATO PANCAKES WITH CONFIT DUCK AND RED-CABBAGE BEET SLAW

Steps:

• Make slaw:
• Pulse cabbage, in batches if necessary, in a food processor until finely chopped, then transfer to a bowl and add 3/4 teaspoon salt and liquid from pickled beets. Finely chop beets (with a knife) and stir into cabbage mixture along with vinegar. Let stand, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes to allow flavors to develop.
• Make pancakes while slaw stands:
• Remove skin and fat from duck leg and finely chop them (reserve meat), then cook in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until fat is rendered and skin is golden and crisp, about 10 minutes. Transfer duck skin with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain, reserving fat in skillet. Meanwhile, remove duck meat from bone, discarding bone, and cut into 1/4-inch dice. Add onion to skillet and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until browned, 7 to 9 minutes. Combine onion, duck meat, and reserved skin in a large bowl.
• Peel potatoes and shred using large holes of a box grater. Squeeze potatoes by handfuls to eliminate excess moisture, then add to duck mixture along with egg, pepper, and remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt, stirring until combined.
• Spread 1/2 cup bread crumbs on a sheet of wax paper. Using a scant 1/4 cup potato mixture for each pancake, make 12 mounds on crumbs. Coat mounds with remaining 1/2 cup crumbs and flatten into 3-inch patties.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking. Using a slotted spatula, gently shake off excess crumbs from each potato pancake, then fry in 2 batches, turning over once, until golden, about 6 minutes per batch. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Serve immediately, with slaw.

DUCK CONFIT

Steps:

• Combine salt, sage, lavender, allspice, juniper berries, coriander, canela or cinnamon and pepper. Spread over the duck legs, and allow to cure, uncovered, in the refrigerator for 3 days.
• After removing the duck legs from the refrigerator, brush off the excess spices, and place the duck in an oven-proof pottery or ceramic casserole that holds them snugly. If necessary, separate the legs from the thighs. Add the chili powder and garlic.
• Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Warm the duck fat in a saucepan, and pour enough into the casserole to cover the duck legs. Place in the oven, and bake about 3 hours, until the duck is very tender. Remove from the oven, and allow to cool. Cover and refrigerate overnight or up to 10 days in the casserole.

DUCK CONFIT WITH SAUTEED POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and drop them into cold water until ready to cook. Drain. Slice the potatoes as thinly as possible. There should be about seven cups. Rinse the slices in cold water and drain. Pat dry.
• Brown the ducks as indicated in the recipe and set aside.
• Heat the duck fat in a large, heavy skillet and add the potatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook over high heat, shaking the skillet and stirring gently at times to redistribute the slices so that they cook evenly, about 12 minutes. Sprinkle with garlic. Toss the potatoes in the skillet and sprinkle with parsley. Serve the potatoes with the duck pieces.