Pan Seared Duck Breasts With Red Wineraspberry Sauce Recipes

PAN-SEARED DUCK BREASTS WITH RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the duck breasts and sear for 5 minutes. Lower the heat to medium and cook for 3 minutes longer. Turn the duck over and cook for 3 minutes. Cover the pan and cook until the duck is tender and still pink in the center, about 4 minutes longer. Remove the duck from the pan, season with 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper to taste and keep warm.
• Add the vinegar to the skillet and cook, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Add two-thirds cup of the raspberries and the orange sections and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in the cream, remaining salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 1 minute.
• Cut the duck into thin slices and fan them out onto four plates. Spoon the sauce over the duck, garnish with the remaining raspberries 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.