Duck Confit With Oranges And Watercress Recipes

MAPLE-GLAZED DUCK WITH ORANGE & WATERCRESS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Place the duck legs on a wire rack, skin-side up, with a tray underneath to catch the fat. Put in the oven and roast for 1 hr. Meanwhile, to make the glaze, pour the soy sauce, maple syrup, honey and juice into a saucepan and bring up to the boil. Add the cinnamon stick and ginger and simmer until the glaze is sticky, then leave to cool.
• After 1 hr, turn the oven up to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Brush the glaze generously over the duck and continue to cook for 30 mins, brushing with glaze every 5 mins or so, until the duck is a deep mahogany with a caramelised crust. Remove from the oven and leave to rest.
• While the duck is roasting, make the dressing by whisking together all the ingredients, except the oil, in a pan. Simmer until reduced by half, then whisk in the oil. If you like, you can char the orange segments. Lay them on a metal baking tray and caramelise them with a blowtorch (you only need to colour one side). Don't blowtorch on parchment or a non-heat resistant plate.
• To serve, tip the watercress and orange segments into a large bowl and toss in half the dressing. Divide the salad between the plates, place a crispy duck leg on top and drizzle with a little extra dressing.

DUCK CONFIT WITH ORANGES AND WATERCRESS

Steps:

• With a sharp paring knife, cut peel and white pith from oranges, then cut each orange crosswise into 5 slices.
• Whisk together vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a bowl. Add oil in a slow stream, whisking until combined.
• Cook duck, skin side down, covered, in a large heavy nonstick skillet over medium-low heat until skin is well browned and crisp and duck is heated through, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Toss watercress and walnuts in a bowl with just enough dressing to coat. Divide orange slices among plates, then drizzle with any remaining dressing and top with salad and a duck leg.

TENDER ROAST DUCK WITH CITRUS & CARROTS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan /gas 6. Scrape away any excess fat from the duck (you could keep this for duck fat potatoes), but keep any jelly. Put the carrots, garlic and orange wedges into a large roasting tin, then toss with the oil and season well. Season the duck legs, then sit them on top of the veg, skin-side up. Roast for 40 mins until the carrots are tender and the duck is turning golden.
• Stir the citrus juice, vinegar and sugar together until the sugar dissolves. Pour over the veg, add the jellified duck or chicken stock, then tuck in the bay and thyme here and there. Roast for another 10 mins until the carrots are surrounded with syrupy sauce and the duck is golden. Season the sauce to taste, then serve with mashed potatoes and watercress.

PEAR AND DUCK CONFIT SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250°F.
• Whisk together mustard, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl. Add 4 tablespoons oil in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified, then whisk in shallot.
• Heat remaining tablespoon oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook pecans, stirring, until golden brown. Transfer nuts with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain, then season with salt.
• Heat skillet with any oil remaining in it over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown duck on all sides until crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and tear meat into bite-size pieces and discard bones. Keep duck warm, covered, on a baking sheet in oven.
• Halve and core pears and cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Add pears, greens, duck, cheese, and nuts to dressing with salt and pepper to taste, then toss gently to combine.

SHREDDED DUCK, WATERCRESS & ORANGE SALAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Pat the duck legs dry with kitchen paper and rub in the five-spice and some seasoning. Pour the vinegar, soy and orange juice into a small roasting tin and put the duck on top. Cover with foil and cook for 30 mins, then remove the foil and increase oven to 240C/220C fan/ gas 9, or put under the grill and cook until the skin is crisp. Remove and strain the liquid through a sieve. Let the duck cool until you can shred the meat from the bones. Skim fat from the liquid.
• Meanwhile, gently toss together the oranges, watercress, radishes, chicory and spring onions. Pour over reserved cooking liquid, then add the duck and arrange on a platter.