Cooking with Burnsy - Duck with Mash, Cabbage and Port reduction

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I have two very nice duck breasts to use today and I'm after ideas. I've not done duck in a while, so it should be a nice change.

My initial thoughts is that I have three choices. I can go chinese inspired and have it in some chinese marindae with some pack choi or something, or I could go french and have duck a l'orange or I could go more classic british and simply roast it with some plum chutney or something.

I'm thinking that I'll probably avoid going chinese, I don't think I'm in the mood for it.

So people, help me decide and give me some ideas :)

Roasted Duck with Thyme and Rosemary Mash, Buttered Savoy Cabbage and Port Reduction

Ingredients:
2 Duck fillets (skin on)
400g potatoes (good mashing ones like Desiree)
1 large shallotte
2 cloves of garlic
1 small savoy cabbage
1 tsp wholegrain mustard
Chicken or beef stock
1 tbsp sugar
A little single cream
butter
Rosemary
Thyme
Chives

Peel the potatoes and boil for about 15-20 minutes.

Score the duck breasts lightly and rub with cracked black pepper and sea salt. Preheat the oven to about 200C. Drizzle with a very small amount of Olive oil. Next, get a frying pan up to a medium heat and put the duck breasts skin down. Leave them there for about 3 mins so they are golden and crispy then turn and fry for a further 2 mins. Put the fillets in the oven for about 10-12 minutes.

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Slice the savoy cabbage and fry gently with a good knob of butter - I use about 1oz. Add cracked black pepper.
Finely chop the chalottes and garlic.

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Take the duck breasts out and leave them to rest on a warm plate. Take the excess fat out of the pan and very gently fry the shallotte and garlic.

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Mash the potatoes and add the chopped herbs a decent amount of seasoning , the mustard, some butter and some single cream.

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Once the shallotte are softened, deglaze the pan with about 1/3 to ½ a bottle of port. Add the sugar and the stock and reduce by at least half. I would have used a chicken Knorr stock pot, but only had beef. I love the stock pots and it saves me time reducing the port. When the port reduction is nice and thick, serve and enjoy.

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I'd go with a nice pan fried or roasted breast with a good sauce,what one depends on your taste but the port reduction or similar, possibly masala would be good.
 
I think I will go for Mash, duck and port sauce. Now what veg? I could go pak choi, or savoy cabbage or minted peas. I'm leaning toward cabbage though.
 
I guess I am the only one who read the header and thought, eh like Burnsy's got an accent or summat. Aye.

Haha good one :D



Burnsy, he meant that you might just randomly put "Duck" on the end of sentences, like some people do. Do you see what I mean, Duck?
 
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