Duck with Figs and Port
- 1 6 -pound duck
- 2 medium shallots
- 1 2 -inch piece ginger, peeled and sliced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons coriander seeds, cracked
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup ruby port
- 1 bay leaf
- 6 dried black figs, stemmed and halved
- 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, diced
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
- Place the duck breast-side up on a cutting board.
- Remove and reserve the giblets and discard the liver.
- Break down the duck and score the breasts.
- Puree the shallots, ginger and coriander in a mini food processor.
- Season the duck legs and the meat side of the breasts with salt, pepper and 2 tablespoons of the ginger mixture.
- Cover and refrigerate the duck and the remaining ginger mixture while you make the stock.
- Make the duck stock: Trim the excess fat from the duck bones and chop into 6 to 8 pieces.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat; add the bones, reserved wings and giblets and brown, turning occasionally, about 25 minutes.
- Add the broth and enough water to cover the bones.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook, uncovered, about 3 hours, skimming as needed.
- Strain the duck stock and skim off any excess fat from the surface.
- (The stock can be made a day ahead.
- Just cover and refrigerate.)
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place the duck legs on a rack in a roasting pan with 1/4 inch water.
- Roast until brown and crisp, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat; add the reserved ginger mixture and cook, stirring, until browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Add the port and scrape up any browned bits from the pan with a wooden spoon.
- Boil until the mixture looks like wet sand.
- Add 3 cups of the duck stock and the bay leaf and simmer until the liquid reduces by about three-quarters, about 45 minutes.
- Strain into a separate saucepan.
- Add the figs and heat until plump, about 2 minutes.
- Whisk in the butter, season generously with salt and pepper and add the vinegar.
- Keep the sauce warm over low heat but do not boil.
- Scrape the ginger mixture off the breasts.
- Heat a medium skillet over high heat.
- Place the breasts, skin-side down, in the skillet and cook until the fat begins to render and the skin is golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Pour off the fat.
- Reduce the heat to low and continue cooking, removing the fat as it renders, until the skin is tight and golden, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Increase the heat to medium-high, flip the breasts and cook until the meat is lightly browned but still medium-rare, 1 to 2 more minutes.
- Thinly slice the breasts and cut the legs in half.
- Divide the meat among plates and top with the sauce and figs.
- Photograph by Marcus Nilsson
duck, shallots, ginger, coriander seeds, kosher salt, extravirgin olive oil, lowsodium, ruby port, bay leaf, black figs, cold unsalted butter, red wine vinegar
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/duck-with-figs-and-port-recipe.html (may not work)