Duck Braised With Turnips And Shallots Recipes

DUCK BRAISED WITH TURNIPS AND SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Trim excess fat from duck and reserve. Season flesh side with salt and pepper. Place a 4-quart oven-proof casserole over medium-high heat, and put a 2-inch piece of fat in casserole; when fat starts to render, remove it. Add duck pieces, skin side down, and sear without turning until skin is golden brown. Do not crowd duck; add pieces a few at a time. When duck is seared discard all but a thin film of the fat in the pot.
• Heat oven to 325 degrees. Place shallots and turnips in casserole and sear, turning gently, over medium heat until golden. Remove to a dish and season with salt and pepper. Pour wine into casserole and simmer briefly, scraping bottom of pan. Add garlic and stock. Return duck to casserole, skin side up. Add thyme, cover and bake 45 minutes.
• Remove casserole from oven. Remove duck. Skim excess fat from casserole. Place shallots and turnips in casserole, place duck pieces on top of vegetables, cover and bake 1 hour.
• Remove duck from casserole and skim excess fat from sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Return duck to casserole. Just before serving, reheat briefly on top of stove.

DUCK BREAST WITH GRAPES, TURNIPS AND A PORT EMULSION

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Score the duck skin with a sharp knife. Season both sides of the breast with salt, but only put pepper on the flesh side. Place breast in a cold saute pan and place over low heat. As fat renders out of the skin, drain it off. When skin is crisp and golden, increase flame to medium and turn breast over. Add 2 of the thyme sprigs, the garlic clove and about 2 tablespoons butter. Finish cooking the breasts until medium rare. Remove from the pan and hold in a 200 degree oven. Drain off excess fat from pan. Add shallots and cook until translucent, about one minute. Add port, remaining thyme sprigs, ground coriander seeds and vinegar. Reduce until almost all the liquid is gone. Whisk in cold unsalted butter cubes in small additions. If emulsion becomes too thick , add a touch of chicken stock or water. Strain and keep in a warm, not hot, place. Saute in butter or vegetable oil the turnips until golden or tender. Season with salt and black pepper. Drain on paper towels and keep warm. Repeat the process with the grapes. Drain on paper towels and keep warm. To serve, slice the duck breast thinly. Arrange on warm plates (not too hot, or your emulsion may break). Mix together the emulsion, turnips, and grapes. Spoon over the duck and serve immediately. Garnish with fresh thyme leaves, chervil pluches, or chive points.

BRAISED DUCK WITH TURNIPS

Steps:

• Cut away duck backbones and discard. Cut off first 2 joints of each wing and reserve. Cut ducks into quarters. Remove any fat. Pat duck pieces dry with paper towels. Pierce skin all over with fork. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat vegetable oil in heavy large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add duck quarters, skin side down, and cook until golden, about 8 minutes. Turn and cook 3 minutes longer. Transfer to large bowl. Add wings and giblets to Dutch oven and cook until golden, turning frequently, about 10 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to another bowl.
• Pour off all but 2 tablespoons duck fat from Dutch oven. Add onions, carrots, parsley stems, thyme and bay leaf to Dutch oven. Cover and cook until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Add 3 1/2 cups broth, wine, giblets and wings. Cover and simmer 30 minutes.
• Strain liquids and return to pot. Add duck quarters; bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover partially and simmer until cooked through, turning occasionally, about 40 minutes. Transfer duck to plate.
• Cook turnips in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, about 25 minutes. Drain; cut into quarters. Combine 1/4 cup chicken broth and cornstarch in small bowl and whisk to blend.
• Skim fat from duck cooking liquid. Boil liquid until reduced to 2 1/2 cups, about 10 minutes. Add cornstarch mixture and whisk until sauce thickens slightly. Add duck and turnips. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until duck and turnips are heated through, about 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Rewarm over medium heat.) Transfer to large bowl. Top with minced parsley.

MASHED YELLOW TURNIPS WITH CRISPY SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Heat the oil and unsalted butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat until it reaches 220 degrees F. Reduce the heat to low, add the shallots, and cook until they are a rich golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes. The temperature should stay below 260 degrees F. Stir the shallots occasionally to make sure they brown evenly. Remove them from the oil with a slotted spoon, drain well, and spread out to cool on paper towels. Once they have dried and crisped, they can be stored at room temperature, covered, for several days.
• Peel the turnips to remove the waxy skins and cut them into generous 1-inch chunks. Place them in a saucepan with water to cover and 1 teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil and simmer, covered, until easily pierced by a paring knife, about 35 minutes. Drain.
• In a separate saucepan, heat the milk and salted butter over low heat until the butter has melted and the milk just begins to simmer.
• Puree the turnips in several batches in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. With the motor running, add the melted butter and milk in a steady stream. The turnips should be smooth.
• Return the puree to the saucepan, season with 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper, and reheat, stirring, over medium heat. Serve piping hot, sprinkled generously with crispy shallots.

PORK BRAISED WITH TURNIPS AND MARJORAM

Steps:

• Trim off excess fat from the pork; dice and reserve it. Cut the rest of the meat in 1 1/2-inch chunks. Mix coriander, five-spice, paprika and 1/2 teaspoon pepper together in a large bowl. Add the pork and, using your hands, coat the meat with the spices.
• Heat a large sauté pan on medium, add the reserved pork fat and cook until it renders, 5 minutes or so. Increase the heat to medium-high, add the pork, toss in some salt, and sear until browned. Remove to a platter. Reduce heat to low. Add the shallots, sauté until soft, then add the apple and garlic, sauté briefly and add sherry. Cook a few minutes until reduced, add 3/4 cup of the stock, stir, return the meat to the pan, season with salt, baste it, cover and cook on low 30 minutes.
• Add another 3/4 cup of the stock and tuck in the turnips. Scatter 1 tablespoon of the marjoram and the thyme on top. Cover and simmer 45 minutes, adding a little more stock if needed; there should be sauce, but the meat should not swim. Check salt and pepper and serve, with the remaining marjoram strewn on top, or set aside and reheat, then serve.

MARMALADE-BRAISED TURNIPS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Add the oil and butter to a large flameproof casserole dish over a medium heat. Once foaming, add the onions, cook for a few mins until they start to soften, then add the stock and marmalade.
• Bring to the boil, drop in the turnips, cover with a lid and put the dish in the oven for 25 mins. Remove from the oven and check that the turnips are soft.
• Put the dish back on the hob and add the cream. Simmer over a medium-high heat for 10 mins or until the cream becomes lovely and thick. Season and stir in the rosemary just before serving, scattering a little extra over the top, if you like.

TENDER DUCK LEGS WITH BABY TURNIPS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 3. Heat a shallow casserole dish or flameproof roasting dish, then take your time to brown the duck legs slowly on all sides - a good 15-20 mins. Remove the duck from the pan, pour off all but 1 tbsp of fat, then add the onion, garlic and herb bundle. Cook for 5 mins, then toss in the carrots.
• Nestle the duck legs, skin side up, among the vegetables, then pour over the stock. Roast for 1 hr until the stock is gently bubbling. Scatter the turnips into the puddles of stock between the duck legs, then return to the oven for 30-40 mins until the duck legs are very tender and the turnips are cooked.

BRAISED DUCK LEGS WITH SHALLOTS AND PARSNIPS

Steps:

• Prepare duck and brown vegetables:
• Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 450°F.
• Trim fat and skin from sides of duck legs, leaving a covering of skin on top of legs (there may be fat underneath skin). Reserve 1/2 cup fat (for cooking). Score skin on legs in a 1/2-inch crosshatch pattern, cutting through fat but not into meat.
• Coarsely chop reserved duck fat and heat in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until melted. Remove from heat and discard any solids with a slotted spoon.
• Divide shallots, parsnips, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper between baking pans. Add 2 tablespoons rendered duck fat to each pan, reserving remainder in skillet, and toss to coat vegetables. Roast vegetables, turning occasionally and switching position of pans halfway through roasting, until browned in patches, 20 to 30 minutes total.
• Brown duck while vegetables roast:
• Pat duck legs dry. Stir together allspice, remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and remaining 3/4 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl and rub all over legs. Heat fat remaining in skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté 4 duck legs, skin sides down, until well browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn legs over with tongs and sauté until undersides are browned, 2 minutes more. Transfer with tongs to paper towels to drain. Brown remaining duck legs (in batches of 4) in same manner, pouring off all but 2 tablespoons fat from skillet between batches.
• Braise duck and vegetables:
• Reduce oven temperature to 375°F.
• Divide duck legs between baking pans, nestling them, skin sides up, in vegetables. Add wine and just enough stock so that most of each leg is submerged but skins are not.
• Braise duck and vegetables, uncovered, switching position of pans halfway through braising, until duck is tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours total.
• Transfer vegetables and duck with a slotted spoon to a platter. Skim fat from pan juices and serve juices, seasoned with salt and pepper if necessary, on the side.

JACQUES'S SKILLET DUCK WITH PARSNIPS AND SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Separating the duck:
• Cut off most of the fatty flap of neck skin and reserve. Insert a sharp knife into 1 breast near the shoulder joint and slice - in a semicircle - around the wishbone. Slide your finger in back of wishbone and pry it out.
• To remove the legs, lift the duck by one leg and cut through the skin all around the thigh, including the meaty piece along the backbone, called the "oyster." Grasp the leg at the knee and pull back the thigh, to expose the joint. Cut through it and pull the leg off the carcass in 1 piece. Repeat to remove the other leg. Cut the drumsticks from the thigh pieces.
• To remove the breast halves, slice along both sides of the breastbone. Lay the duck on its side, and cut through the upper shoulder joint. Hold the carcass down by the neck with one hand, grasp the shoulder section with the other, and pull off the entire breast half, in 1 piece. Repeat on the other side. Pull out the 2 slim meaty filets that remain on either side of the breastbone.
• Chop off the wing tips. Cut around the wing on 1 breast piece to free it from the breastbone; separate the largest wing joint from the other 2. Repeat on the other side.
• You should now have 12 pieces to put in the pan: 2 large breast pieces, 2 thighs, 2 drumsticks, 2 small breast filets, and 4 wing pieces.
• Finally, trim any loose, fatty flaps of skin from the carcass, the breast, or the leg pieces.
• Frying the duck:
• Set the pan over moderate heat. Slice the reserved neck skin into 3 or 4 strips and put them in the pan to begin rendering fat. Season the duck pieces with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and the 1/4 teaspoon pepper. When there's enough fat to film the pan bottom, lay in all the pieces, skin side down (you can push aside the strips of neck skin, but leave them in the pan).
• Raise the heat to medium-high, and cook skin side down and uncovered. The duck skin will shrink and color, and lots of fat will accumulate in the pan. Check the underside of the pieces once or twice t make sure they are not burning; lower the heat slightly if necessary. Fry until the skin on all the pieces is well browned and quite crisp; the whole process should take 20 to 25 minutes.
• Turn the heat down to low. Leave the duck pieces on their skin - they should be half submerged in fat - and strew the parsnip pieces, shallots, and garlic cloves all around them in the pan. Add the rosemary and bay leaves, and sprinkle over 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Cover the pan, turn down the heat to low, and cook for 30 minutes. Check occasionally to make sure that the duck is gently steaming; adjust the heat as necessary.
• When the duck and vegetables are tender - pierce with a sharp knife to check - turn off the heat. Immediately lift the duck and vegetable pieces from the pan with the spoon or skimmer, allowing the fat to drain, and arrange on a serving platter.
• Pour off the clear duck fat from the pan - you will have 1 1/2 cups or so - and save for other uses. Add 1 cup of water to the pan, bring to a boil, scraping with a wooden spatula to melt all the solidified juice, and pour over the duck. Scatter chopped parsley over and serve.
• A Côtes du Rhône, Syrah, or Grenache-type wine would be good with this duck.

GRILLED DUCK WITH SAUTEED TURNIPS

Steps:

• Remove the ducks' legs, including thighs. Using a boning knife, slice the legs three-quarters of the way through at the joint where they meet the thighs. Cut from the skinless side. This flattens the meat, allowing it to cook faster. Run the knife along both sides of the legbone and thighbone, from the skinless side, just to separate the meat. Remove all skin from the legs and thighs. Remove the duck breasts and skin them. (A butcher can do all this for you.)
• Place all the duck meat in a roasting pan. Combine the salt, bay leaf, thyme, clove and black peppercorns in a blender or spice grinder. Grind them to a powder. Sprinkle the powder all over the duck pieces. Rub the duck pieces with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and add the garlic. Cover with plastic wrap and let marinate for several hours, or overnight.
• Before cooking the duck, slice the turnips very thinly. You should have about six cups. Place the turnips in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, with the remaining olive oil, 2 tablespoons butter and garlic clove. Place the skillet over the hot grill along with the duck legs, uncovered. Cook the turnips, turning them occasionally, until they are soft, about 15 minutes. Remove from grill, cover and keep warm.
• Cook the duck legs for about 20 minutes, turning occasionally. When the duck legs are done, remove them from grill and place in a roasting pan. Keep warm. Place the breasts on the grill. Cook for about 10 minutes, turning once. Place the breasts in the roasting pan with the legs and add the shallots, butter and parsley. Place roasting pan over the grill and let the butter melt and mix with the duck juices. Place the duck meat on a serving platter or serving dishes. Mix the pan juices well and bring to a boil. Pour over duck meat and serve with the turnips.

BRAISED DUCK

Steps:

• Salt and pepper duck generously on both sides. Place halves, skin side down, in large saute pan (preferably seasoned cast-iron or nonstick) or 2 medium saute pans. Wedge thyme and garlic under skin. Cover pan with lid or foil; place over low heat. Braise for 1 hour (duck should crackle and sizzle gently; skin should be golden and crisp; most fat should be rendered). Turn duck; cover pan. Braise for 1 more hour, until duck bottom is well browned and meat very tender.
• Remove duck to cutting board; cut halves in half. Reserve fat from pan. In clean saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons fat (if there is not enough, use canola oil) over medium-high heat. Place duck pieces skin side down, and saute for 3 to 5 minutes, just until skin is crisp and dark. Transfer to dish, and serve.