Duck with Honey
- 4 teaspoons (packed) fresh lavender blossoms or 2 teaspoons dried
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1 6- to 6 1/2-pound duck, fresh or frozen, thawed
- 1 cup canned low-salt chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons dry red wine
- 4 tablespoons lavender honey or orange flower honey
- 4 toasted baguette slices
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Finely grind 2 teaspoons fresh or 1 teaspoon dried lavender blossoms, thyme, sea salt and peppercorns in spice grinder or with mortar and pestle.
- Remove fat deposits and giblets from duck cavity, reserving liver.
- Trim excess skin and fat from neck area.
- Rinse inside and out; pat dry.
- Cutting through skin and fat (but not flesh) of duck breasts, score in crisscross pattern.
- Rub inside and outside of duck with herb mixture; return duck liver to cavity.
- Place duck, breast up, on rack in roasting pan.
- Roast 2 hours.
- Remove from oven.
- Increase oven temperature to 375F.
- Transfer duck to plate.
- Pour pan juices into 4-cup glass measuring cup; spoon off fat.
- Return juices and 1 tablespoon fat to pan.
- Add broth and wine.
- Return duck to pan.
- Brush with 2 tablespoons honey.
- Roast duck 20 minutes, basting once with pan juices.
- Brush with 2 tablespoons honey; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon fresh or 1/2 teaspoon dried lavender.
- Roast duck until deep golden and thermometer inserted into innermost part of thigh registers 180F, about 5 minutes longer.
- Transfer duck to platter.
- Remove liver; mash finely in small bowl.
- Spread liver over baguette slices.
- Add 1 teaspoon fresh or 1/2 teaspoon dried lavender to roasting pan.
- Place over medium heat.
- Boil juices until thick enough to coat spoon, whisking often, 5 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Transfer to bowl.
- Slice duck and serve with baguette slices and pan juices.
fresh lavender blossoms, thyme, salt, black peppercorns, chicken broth, red wine, lavender honey, baguette slices
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/duck-with-honey-101622 (may not work)