Duck In Red Wine Currant Sauce With Cracklings And Bacon Recipes

ROASTED DUCK IN RED WINE SAUCE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4.
• For the red wine sauce: heat the oil in a saucepan and fry the shallots for a few minutes until soft. Add the wine, stock and bay leaf, bring to the boil then reduce to simmer for 40 minutes, or until the liquid has reduced by two thirds. Discard the bay leaf.
• For the duck: use a sharp knife to score the skin of the duck breasts and season well with salt and pepper. Put the duck breasts skin-side down onto an ovenproof frying pan over a medium heat for three to four minutes. Transfer to the oven and cook for a further 5-6 minutes for medium rare or 8-10 minutes for well done meat.
• Remove the duck from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Serve with the red wine sauce.

DUCK IN RED WINE-CURRANT SAUCE WITH CRACKLINGS AND BACON

Steps:

• Julienne half of the duck skin and discard the rest. Heat a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the duck skin and bacon and cook, stirring constantly, pouring off and reserving rendered fat as it accumulates, until skin and bacon are well browned, about 6 to 7 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, drain on paper towels and set aside. Save 2 teaspoons of fat and discard the rest.
• Season the duck with salt and pepper to taste. Place 1 teaspoon of the fat in the skillet. Sear duck until browned on the outside and medium rare inside, about 2 minutes per side. Set aside and keep warm.
• Add the remaining fat and the shallots to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in the wine, broth, vinegar and currants and simmer until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 10 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat and whisk in butter. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pepper to taste. Cut the duck on the diagonal into thin strips and fan out onto 4 plates. Spoon the sauce over the duck, sprinkle with the reserved duck skin and bacon and serve immediately.

PEPPERED DUCK BREAST WITH RED WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Remove the tenderloins (the thin strips of meat on undersides of the duck breast) and reserve for the sauce. With a sharp knife, trim away any gristle from the undersides of the breasts and trim any excess fat. Score the skin in a diamond pattern, cutting through the fat but not quite reaching the meat. Lightly sprinkle salt on both sides, then rub 1 teaspoon crushed black peppercorns all over. Sprinkle with the garlic and a few thyme sprigs, cover, and leave at room temperature for 1 hour. (For deeper flavor, refrigerate the breasts for several hours or overnight, then return to room temperature before cooking.)
• Heat 1 tablespoon unsalted butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallot and the reserved duck tenderloins; let them brown well, stirring occasionally, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and a small thyme sprig and let them fry for 1 minute.
• Add the broth and 1/4 cup wine, raise the heat to a brisk simmer and let the liquid reduce to about 1 1/4 cups, about 10 minutes. Strain the sauce and return to the heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons red wine and the Cognac or brandy and cook for 1 minute more. Dissolve potato starch in 2 tablespoons cold water, then stir the mixture into the sauce. Whisk in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Season to taste with salt. (Sauce may be made in advance and reheated, thinned with a little broth.)
• Remove and discard the garlic and thyme sprigs from the breasts. Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium-high. When the pan is hot, lay in the duck breasts, skin-side down, and let them sizzle. Lower the heat to medium and cook for a total of 7 minutes, checking to make sure the skin isn't browning too quickly. With tongs, turn the breasts over and let them cook another 3 minutes for rare, 4 to 5 minutes for medium-rare. Transfer to a warm platter and let rest for 10 minutes. Slice crosswise, not too thickly, at a slight angle and serve with the sauce.