Duck With Sauerkraut Canard Et Choucroute Recipes

DUCK WITH SAUERKRAUT - CANARD ET CHOUCROUTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Season ducks with mixture of paprika, salt, pepper, and garlic salt.
• Divide apples and onions and stuff half into bird cavities and place other half in bottom of baking pan.
• Cover breasts with uncooked bacon and place into baking pan with melted butter and water.
• Place pan in preheated oven; bake 3 hours, basting every 30 minutes.
• Combine sauerkraut, caraway seeds, and crumbled bacon in casserole dish.
• Mix well.
• Place in oven 20 minutes before ducks are done.
• Quarter cooked ducks and serve on sauerkraut.

ROASTED AND BRAISED DUCK WITH SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Prick the duck all over with a fork, then sprinkle it with salt and pepper and put it in a large, deep ovenproof skillet or Dutch oven that can later be covered. Roast the duck, checking occasionally to make sure it is browning steadily, for about 1 1/2 hours. (If the duck is barely browning, increase the heat by 50 degrees; if it seems to be browning too quickly, reduce the heat slightly.) At that point it will be nicely browned and will have rendered a great deal of fat; pour off all but a few tablespoons of the fat and transfer the pan to the top of the stove. Don't worry if the duck does not appear to be fully cooked.
• Scatter the sauerkraut around the duck, then sprinkle it with paprika, moisten it with the wine, and tuck the bay leaves in there. Turn the heat to low and cover. Simmer for about 15 minutes, then stir and put some of the sauerkraut on top of the duck.
• Cook for another 15 minutes or so, until the duck is quite tender. Carve and serve.
• Variations
• As everyone knows from sad experience, a single duck provides skimpy servings for four people. You can make up for this with side dishes, but there are other solutions as well:
• Braise a piece of slab bacon and/or smoked or fresh pork along with the duck, after adding the sauerkraut; you'll have to increase the cooking time a bit.
• Peel and cut up some potatoes (or carrots, parsnips, or turnips) and cook them along with the duck and sauerkraut.
• Finally, you can simply cook more duck-start with 2 ducks or use a couple of duck legs or, best of all, sear a duck breast and serve the slices separately.

ROASTED AND BRAISED DUCK WITH SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Prick the duck all over with a fork, then sprinkle it with salt and pepper and place it in a large, deep, ovenproof skillet or Dutch oven. Roast the duck for about 1 1/2 hours, checking occasionally to make sure it is browning steadily. (If the duck is barely browning, increase the heat by 50 degrees; if it seems to be browning too quickly, reduce the heat slightly.) When it is nicely browned and has rendered a great deal of fat, pour off all but a few tablespoons of the fat and transfer the pan to the top of the stove.
• Scatter the sauerkraut around the duck, then sprinkle it with paprika, moisten it with the wine, and tuck the bay leaves in. Turn the heat to low, and cover the pan. Simmer for about 15 minutes, then stir and put some of the sauerkraut on top of the duck.
• Cook another 15 minutes or so, until the duck is quite tender. Carve and serve.

CHOUCROUTE

Steps:

• Heat a 5-quart Dutch oven or pot over medium-low eat. Melt the duck fat and butter, then add the onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and golden but not browned, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, rinse the sauerkraut under hot water to remove excess salt. When it starts to stick to your fingers, drain well and squeeze out as much liquid as possible with your hands.
• Add the sauerkraut, bay leaves, and juniper berries to the onions, season with salt, and stir once. Arrange the knuckles, ribs, and both bacons in the sauerkraut, partially burying them in the mixture. Top with the garlic, then add the wine. Cover, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 2 hours.
• About 30 minutes before serving, arrange the potatoes in a single layer over the meat. Cover and continue cooking until the potatoes and meat are tender.
• About 20 minutes before serving, place the knacks in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a very gentle simmer and cook until heated through, about 15 minutes. Do not let the water boil or the knacks will explode.
• Transfer the potatoes and meat from the Dutch oven to a large serving platter, let cool slightly, and slice the meat. Transfer the sauerkraut to the platter. Top with the knacks. Serve with mustard and horseradish sauce on the side.