Five Spice Grilled Duck With Citrus Sauce And Couscous Recipes

SPICE RUBBED GRILLED DUCK BREAST WITH GRILLED PEACH AND GOAT CHEESE SALAD

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium. Put orange juice in a medium saucepan and cook until reduced by half. Add the blackberries and cook for 2 minutes. Strain the mixture into a bowl. Place the blackberries in another bowl and set aside.
• Mix together all the spices and rub the skin side of the duck with some of the rub. Season breasts with salt and drizzle with oil. Grill, rub side down until a crust forms, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the breasts over and continue cooking to medium doneness, brushing with some of the orange-blackberry glaze every minute or so. Transfer to a large platter.
• Brush the cut side of the peaches with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the peaches, cut side down until slightly charred about 2 minutes. Turn over and grill for another minute. Arrange cut side up around the duck, or on another platter. Spoon some goat cheese into the peach hollows, scatter the arugula and pecans over, and then some of the cooked blackberries. Serve the remaining berries with the duck and peaches, if desired.

FIVE-SPICE DUCK

Steps:

• To make the five-spice rub, put the fennel, cinnamon, star anise, Szechwan peppercorns (or cardamom), cloves, and chipotle pepper in a small pan over medium heat and toast for a few minutes until aromatic, shaking the pan. Let cool, then grind the toasted spices in a spice mill or clean coffee grinder. Transfer the ground spices to a bowl. Add the ginger, garlic, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine well.
• Pat spice rub generously all over the skin of the ducks, place them on a rack over a roasting pan, and refrigerate them, uncovered, for at least 2 hours, or, preferably overnight.
• Preheat a grill.
• When you are ready to cook the ducks, place them on a rotisserie over a grill with a drip pan set directly under the ducks. Keep the fire fairly low to avoid flare ups. Cook the ducks until the juices run clear and an instant read thermometer inserted into the thigh reads 175 degrees F, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Remove the ducks from the rotisserie and carve them into breast and leg-thigh portions.

FIVE-SPICE DUCK BREAST

Steps:

• Place the duck breasts skin-side down on a cutting board and trim any excess skin that hangs over the sides of the breasts. Flip the breasts over and score the skin with four parallel, diagonal cuts. Dust the breasts on both sides with the five-spice powder.
• Heat a cast-iron pan over medium-low heat. Place duck breasts in the pan, skin-side down, and cook until the fat has melted and the skin is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Flip the breasts over and continue to cook for about 10 minutes for medium doneness. Remove the duck to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes (this ensures the duck will be plump and juicy). To serve, cut the breasts into 1/4-inch-thick slices and spread out in a shingle pattern on a large platter.

FIVE-SPICE DUCK TOSTADA WITH GINGER-CHILE CREAM DRESSING

Steps:

• In a saute pan, toast the Szechuan peppercorns, coriander seeds, black peppercorns, and star anise over medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes, until fragrant. Remove from the heat and let cool. Grind the toasted spices in a coffee grinder to the consistency of course salt and pour into a small bowl. Add the garlic powder, salt, and curry powder and mix well.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Prick the skin of the duck all over with the point of a very sharp knife. Rub the duck with the spice mixture. Place in a roasting pan and roast for 20 minutes. Decrease the temperature to 350 degrees F and cook for another 40 minutes, until the juices run clear when a thigh is pierced. Transfer the duck to a platter, reserving the duck fat in the pan.
• When the duck cools, remove the skin and the meat and julienne both. Place the skin in a small saute pan. Add 2 tablespoons of the reserved duck drippings and saute slowly over low heat. Cook for about 15 minutes, until the fat is rendered from the skin and the skin is crispy. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Place all the ingredients except the canola oil in a blender. Blend for 1 minute. With the motor running, slowly add the canola oil. If the dressing is too thick, add a small amount of water to thin it to desired consistency.
• In a large bowl, mix the greens, carrot, jicama, green onion, cranberries, macadamia nuts, and mango. Drizzle with 3/4 cup of the dressing and toss to coat.
• To assemble the dish, divide the dressed greens among the tortillas and mound in the center. Divide the duck meat among the salads. Top with the wonton strips and duck skin cracklings and serve.

LEMON SOUP WITH MINT AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Bring the chicken stock to a boil in a heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in the hoisin, lemon juice and mint. Stir in the couscous. Cover and set aside off the heat to steep for 5 minutes. Whisk in the mustard. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle into 4 soup bowls. Serve immediately.