Crispy Balsamic Duck Breasts 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.

DUCK BREAST WITH BALSAMIC VINEGAR GLAZE

Steps:

• Combine the balsamic vinegar, honey, currants and cayenne in a small pot. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and reduce by half to form a thick, syrupy glaze. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• With the point of a knife, score the skin side of the duck breasts in a crosshatch pattern, being careful not to pierce the flesh.
• Season the duck breasts with the salt and pepper. Heat a saute pan over medium heat 2 minutes before adding the breasts, skin-side down. Cook over medium to low heat approximately 6 to 8 minutes to render the fat.
• Carefully remove the excess fat from the saute pan, then turn the breasts over and saute the flesh side 3 to 4 minutes before removing the duck breasts from the pan.
• The breasts should now be medium rare. Slice lengthwise or crosswise and arrange several slices on each plate. Reheat the balsamic vinegar glaze and drizzle some over each of the duck breasts. Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and serve with Ginger Chestnut Stuffing

CRISPY DUCK BREASTS WITH BALSAMIC-GLAZED TANGERINES

Steps:

• 1. Heat a large skillet, preferably cast-iron, over medium heat until very hot. Using a paper towel, pat both sides of duck dry. Sprinkle both sides with 3/4 tsp. salt total. Lay duck in pan, skin side down. Immediately reduce heat to low. 2. Cook duck slowly, without turning, until a lot of fat has rendered and skin is crisp, about 20 minutes; reduce temperature if skin starts getting too dark. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°. 3. Set a cooling rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet. Transfer duck to rack, skin side up. Roast until done the way you like, about 10 minutes for medium. Remove duck from oven and let rest 10 minutes. 4. Meanwhile, pour duck fat into a measuring cup; if needed, add butter to make 1/4 cup. Return fat to pan, heating over low heat until it's warm. Whisk in vinegar and remaining 1/4 tsp. salt. Add tangerine segments, stirring gently to combine. Slice duck through skin into 1/2-in.-thick pieces and set on plates. Spoon tangerines with sauce over duck.

PAN-SEARED FIVE-SPICE DUCK BREAST WITH BALSAMIC JUS

Steps:

• In a large, heavy self-sealing plastic bag, combine the garlic, ginger, five-spice powder, salt, and pepper. Add the duck breasts, seal, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours. Remove from the refrigerator 1 hour before cooking.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C/gas 6. In a large ovenproof sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Sear the duck breast, skin side down, for 5 minutes; turn and sear for 5 minutes on the other side. Transfer the pan to the oven and roast for 5 minutes for medium-rare. Transfer the duck breasts to a plate and keep warm.
• To make a balsamic jus, pour off the fat from the pan. Return the pan to medium-high heat, add the wine, and stir to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook to reduce the wine by half. Add the balsamic vinegar and cook to reduce for several more minutes.
• Cut the duck breasts into diagonal slices and serve drizzled with the balsamic jus.