Pan Seared Duck Breast With Pumpkin Polenta
- 1/4 cup grated ginger
- 1 clove
- 1 vanilla bean, sliced in half lengthwise
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 4 shallots, peeled and minced
- 2 magrets of duck, about 12 ounces each
- 1 tablespoon, plus 1 teaspoon, canola oil
- 2 cups chicken broth, homemade or low-sodium canned
- 1/2 cup stone-ground cornmeal
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup minced sage leaves
- To make the marinade, combine the ginger, clove, vanilla bean and wine in a saucepan.
- Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Add 2 of the minced shallots.
- Set aside until cool.
- Place the duck breasts in a large bowl.
- Add the marinade.
- Cover.
- Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours, turning once.
- Take the duck breasts out of the marinade.
- Pat dry and set aside until the breasts reach room temperature.
- Strain the marinade and reserve.
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
- Brush a pie plate with 1 teaspoon of the oil.
- Set aside.
- Pour 1 cup of the chicken broth in a large saucepan.
- Bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to medium low.
- Gradually add the cornmeal.
- Add the pumpkin puree.
- Whisk constantly until smooth, about 5 minutes.
- Spread the cornmeal into the pie plate.
- Place in the warm oven.
- Heat the remaining oil in a heavy-bottom skillet.
- Add the duck, fat side down, and cook over medium-high heat until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
- Turn the duck over, lower the heat to medium and cook until medium rare, about 3 more minutes.
- Remove the duck and set aside.
- Pour the marinade into the pan.
- Add the remaining shallots.
- Simmer over high heat until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 5 minutes.
- Add the remaining broth and simmer until reduced to 1 cup, about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Strain.
- Set aside.
- Remove the polenta from the oven.
- Cut into 8 wedges.
- Place 2 pieces on each of 4 plates.
- Cut the duck into thin strips crosswise and arrange around the polenta.
- Drizzle each plate with 2 tablespoons of sauce.
- Garnish with sage.
- Serve immediately.
grated ginger, clove, vanilla bean, red wine, shallots, magrets of duck, canola oil, chicken broth, stoneground cornmeal, pumpkin puree, sage
Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/496 (may not work)