Quatre Epices Roast Duck Recipes

ROAST DUCK

Steps:

• Unwrap the ducks and allow them to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes. With a fork, prick the skin without piercing the meat. This will allow the fat to drain off while the ducks cook.
• Meanwhile, in a very large stock pot which can hold the 2 ducks, heat the chicken broth with 1 tablespoon of kosher salt until it boils. Add the ducks very carefully and bring the stock back to a boil. If there isn't enough stock to cover the ducks, add the hottest tap water to cover. If the ducks float to the top, place a plate on top to keep them immersed. When the stock comes back to a boil, lower the heat and simmer the ducks in the stock for 45 minutes.
• When the ducks are finished simmering, skim off enough duck fat from the top of the stock to pour a film on the bottom of a 14 by 18 by 3-inch roasting pan. This will keep the ducks from sticking when they roast. Carefully take the ducks out of the stock, holding them over the pot to drain. Place them in the roasting pan, pat the skin dry with paper towels, and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of salt and the pepper. If you have time, allow the ducks to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to allow the skin to dry.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. (Be sure your oven is very clean or it will smoke!) Roast the ducks for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow them to rest, covered with aluminum foil, for 20 minutes. Serve warm.

ROAST DUCK WITH APRICOT GLAZE

Steps:

• Boil duck for 30-45 minutes in enough water so that it is completely submerged.
• Remove and blot dry inside and out with paper towels. Place in fridge for a couple of days to allow the skin to become very dry.
• Refrigerate the lovely greasy duck broth. Once the fat has all risen to the top, skim it off and save to use in other recipes--like potatoes roasted with duck fat----YUM.
• Reduce your duck broth, concentrating it down to 2--3 cups. Combine with veal stock and reduce down to another 2--3 cups. This will take several hours. If you wish to thicken it, make a little roux with some duck fat and some flour, slowly whisking some of the reduction, whisking continuously, allowing to boil gently. Then add the remainder of the reduction. Adjust your seasonings with salt and pepper.
• Remove duck from fridge for an hour or so before roasting.
• Preheat over to 400 degrees F.
• Salt generously and dust with the quatre epices--see note below.
• Roast breast side up for 90 minutes, spreading apricot jam on it for the last half hour.
• Remove from oven and let stand for 10 minutes if you can wait that long.
• Carve up and serve with the reduction/sauce.
• **********************************************************************************.
• Quater epices (meaning four spices) is a French spice blend, but it is also found in Middle Eastern kitchens. It is often used in terrines, fresh sausages, and pates. Add a heaping teaspoon to a pot of hearty stew for a surprising new depth. Here's an example of this versatile blend:.
• Combine 2 tablespoons white peppercorns, 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg,1/2 teaspoon (about 12) whole cloves, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger.
• Grind up peppercorns and cloves, and combine with the rest. Store in cool, dark, dry place.

CONFIT DUCK LEGS

Steps:

• Mince and mash 4 garlic cloves to a paste with a pinch of kosher salt. Stir together paste, kosher salt (1/4 cup), thyme, quatre épices, shallots, and bay leaves in a large bowl. Add duck legs and toss to coat, then marinate, covered and chilled, at least 1 day and up to 2 days.
• Wipe off marinade with paper towels.
• Trim off 1/4 inch from top of garlic head, then stick 2 whole cloves into head. Melt duck fat in a wide large heavy pot over low heat, then cook garlic head and duck legs, uncovered, over low heat until fat registers approximately 190°F, about 1 hour. Continue to cook duck, maintaining a temperature of 190 to 210°F, until a wooden pick slides easily into thighs, 2 to 3 hours more.
• Transfer duck with a slotted spoon to a large bowl (reserve garlic for another use if desired). Slowly pour duck fat through a fine-mesh sieve into a large crock or deep bowl, leaving any cloudy liquid or meat juices in bottom of pot, then pour strained fat over duck legs to cover by 1 inch. (If necessary, shorten drumstick bones 1 to 2 inches using a large heavy knife to fit legs more tightly in bowl.) Cool to room temperature, about 2 hours, then chill, covered, at least 8 hours.
• Just before serving, remove duck from fat (reserve fat for another use, such as frying), scraping off most of fat, then cook, skin side down, in a large heavy nonstick skillet over low heat, covered, until skin is crisp and duck is heated through, 15 to 20 minutes

PEKING ROAST DUCK PIZZA

Steps:

• Place into a mixing bowl hoisin sauce, plum sauce, chili, salt, garlic, onion and sesame oil and combine set aside until needed.
• Preheat oven to 450°. Place a half size baking pan into the oven for 20 minutes.
• Place the roast duck onto a cutting broad and hand shredded into pieces.
• Place the pizza crust onto a flat surface. Brush some plum hoisin sauce onto the crust and top with cheese, parsley leaves, and shredded duck meat, sliced onion and tomatoes and lightly with cheese.
• Place onto the hot baking pan and into the oven. About 15 minutes or until the pizza is golden brown.
• Slice and serve hot.

QUATRE-ÉPICES

Steps:

• Put all of the ingredients in a spice mill or blender and process until evenly ground. Store in a cool, dark, dry place.

QUATRE ÉPICES (FOUR SPICES)

Steps:

• In small bowl, combine all ingredients.
• Mix thoroughly.
• Use immediately.

EASY ROAST DUCK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Remove giblets and neck from duck cavity and discard or reserve for another use. Cut off excess fat from duck cavity.
• Place duck, breast side down (wings up), on a rack in a roasting pan; add water to come just below the rack. Sprinkle duck with pepper and brush with a little soy sauce.
• Roast 30 minutes, undisturbed. Prick the back all over with point of a sharp knife, then flip bird onto its back. Sprinkle with pepper and brush with soy sauce again. Add a little more water to the pan if the juices are spattering (carefully--you don't want to get water on the duck).
• Roast 20 minutes, then prick the breast all over , and brush with soy sauce. Roast 10 minutes; brush with soy sauce. Roast 5 or 10 minutes more if necessary, or until duck is a glorious brown all over and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thigh measures at least 155 degrees. Let rest 5 minutes before carving and serving.

ROAST DUCK A L'ORANGE WITH DIRTY RICE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500°. Season the ducks inside and out with the meat seasoning. Place the ducks into a roasting pan that is at least two inches deep.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the rosemary leaves and diced onions. Stuff each duck with the rosemary/onion mixture.
• Place the ducks in the oven and immediately lower the temperature to 350°. Cook the ducks until crisp and tender, about 4-41/5 hours. Drain the excess fat from the roasting pans after the first hour, and again every hour. Reserve the duck fat. The ducks are ready when you can easily twist the drumstick with your hand.
• When the ducks are done, remove them from the roasting pan and set aside. Drain off any excess duck fat. Place the roasting pan on the stove over medium-high heat. Add 4 cups duck or chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook for 8-10 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan with a metal spatula to release all of the pan drippings. Strain and set aside.
• To make the orange sauce: Heat the duck fat in a pot over medium-high heat. Add the 1 cup of finely diced onions and cook, stirring constantly, until the onions are caramelized (dark brown).
• Add the orange juice, reduce heat to medium, and cook until the juice reduces to about 2 cups.
• Make a caramel:.
• In a large skillet, add the sugar and water. Whisk until fully blended. Cook over medium-low heat to make a caramel. Slowly add the warmed duck stock and cook, stirring occasionally, until the caramel dissolves in the stock. Add the caramel/stock mixture to the orange juice mixture and bring to a boil.
• Add the pepper jelly, salt, and oranges. Cook for 4-5 minutes. Add the dissolved cornstarch and thicken the sauce. Strain into a separate pot and keep warm.
• When the ducks are cool enough to handle, de-bone the ducks: Slice the ducks into halves. Slide your fingers underneath the breast meat and remove the breast and rib bones. Twist the drumstick and remove the leg bone and the "pin bone" that runs parallel to the drumstick. Remove the hip bone and thigh bone. Place the de-boned duck on a sheet pan and set aside or cover and refrigerate.
• Make a simple duck stock: Place the duck bones in a pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for at least one hour. Strain and set aside.
• To serve, cover the bottom of the sheet pans with duck stock and heat the duck in a 500° oven for 15 minutes. If you have a broiler, you can carefully crisp the skin under the broiler for a few seconds. Bring the orange sauce to a boil and serve 3 ounces of sauce underneath each portion of duck, alongside ¾ cup of dirty rice.
• For the Rice:.
• Heat the duck fat or olive oil in a cast-iron pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring constantly, until very brown, 4-5 minutes. Add the onions, bell pepper, celery, and eggplant. Cook, stirring constantly, until the vegetables become soft, 3-4 minutes.
• Add the garlic, bay leaf, salt, white pepper, black pepper, cayenne, cumin, and oregano. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Add 6 Tablespoons of the chicken stock. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes.
• Stir in the ground liver. Add the remaining chicken stock and bring to a boil. Turn heat to low and simmer for 2 minutes.
• Stir in the raw rice and cover the saucepan. Turn heat to very low and cook until the rice is done, 18-20 minutes.
• Fold in the green onions and parsley. Serve immediately.

LINGONBERRY ROAST DUCK

Steps:

• Rinse/wash and dry the duckling, removing any giblets, etc, that are inside (use the giblets to make an excellent broth, another time*- you can freeze them for later use, if necessary).
• In a bowl, combine the jam, soy sauce, sherry, hard cider, garlic, lemon juice, and Tabasco.
• Pour 1/2 cup of the jam mixture into the inside of the duck and roll the duck around to coat the inside; place on roasting rack in the roasting pan.
• A quarter of a cup at a time and making sure all of the skin becomes wet from the glaze (and a good number of lingonberries remain on the skin of the duck), pour most of the rest of the jam mixture onto the duck, reserving about 1/4 of a cup; let the duck sit for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Remove the outer skin from the onion half, then cut it into quarters; stuff the duck with the onion pieces.
• Combine the reserved lingonberry sauce with the honey; pour the honey/sauce over the duck (get some inside, too, and try not to dislodge too many lingonberries), then drizzle with sprinkle with the chopped green onions.
• Roast covered at 350 degrees F for 1 hour, basting occasionally with drippings, then add the hard cider to the bottom of the roasting pan; roast un-covered an additional hour, basting occasionally.
• Serve with rice pilaf or wild rice, and vegetables.
• *Tomake an excellent dark broth: take 4 cups water, the giblets from the duck (neck, heart, liver, kidney), the onion that was inside the roasted duck, and the roasting pan drippings (and any leftover bits of roasted duck you're willing to use, such as the wings) and put it all in a crockpot on low for 8 hours; strain well and refrigerate for use within 3 or 4 days, or put into ice cube trays and freeze.
• Note: you can substitute other types of berry jam for the lingonberry.

CRISP ROAST DUCK

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°F.
• If necessary, cut off wing tips with poultry shears or a sharp knife. Remove and discard excess fat from body cavity and neck, then rinse duck inside and out. Prick skin all over with a sharp fork. Fold neck skin under body, then put duck, breast side up, on a rack in a 13- by 9- by 3-inch roasting pan.
• Pour boiling-hot water over duck to tighten skin.
• Cool duck, then pour out any water from cavity into pan.
• Pat duck dry inside and out, reserving water in pan, then rub duck inside and out with kosher salt and pepper.
• Roast duck, breast side up, 45 minutes, then remove from oven.
• Turn duck over using 2 wooden spoons, and roast 45 minutes more.
• Turn duck over again (breast side up), tilting duck to drain any liquid from cavity into pan. Continue to roast duck until skin is brown and crisp, about 45 minutes more (total roasting time: about 2 1/4 hours).
• Tilt duck to drain any more liquid from cavity into pan. Transfer duck to a cutting board and let stand 15 minutes before carving. Discard liquid in roasting pan.

QUATRE EPICES ROAST DUCK

Steps:

• Mince and mash 4 garlic cloves to a paste with a pinch of kosher salt. Stir together paste, kosher salt, thyme, RawSpiceBar's Quatre Epices and shallots in a large bowl. Add duck legs and toss to coat, cover and chill, at least 1 day.
• Melt duck fat in a wide large heavy pot over low heat, then cook remaining garlic cloves and duck legs, uncovered, over low heat until fat registers approximately 190°F, about 1 hour. Continue to cook duck, until a wooden pick slides easily into thighs, 2 to 3 hours more.
• Transfer duck to a large bowl. Strain duck fat through a sieve, then pour strained fat over duck legs. Cool to room temperature, about 2 hours, then chill, covered, at least 8 hours.